One of those.. If you missed it.. you missed it!! things but thank God for YouTube, and Video

"Staring at the world through my rear view..."  -Tupac
And we see his reflection in this bit.

The Reserection / Hail Mary @33:00 minutes
 Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg set at Coachella '12

Why I have a speaker background.. I'm a girl about beauty.. But I loooove my music.
 
The first bit.. Snoop and Dre's, Nate Dogg tribute even brought back memories. I remember thinking I could get away with bumping Snoop in my dad's car.. and getting my tape thrown straight out the window. We were our way to the Hamptons where you only get Connecticut radio stations and I was pissed. Plus, I just got the damn thing.
Proves, even some of the raunchiest rap still acts as a land mark in our memories.

Ohh, we miss Pac though.. don't we?

You use 'em all day long.. make time to pamper them too!

 Unless you're planning on resorting to something like this..

Now's the time to start prepping your feet! Don't you dare leave it all to your nail tech!
Use a natural pumice stone in the shower daily to prevent dry skin build up.
If you're in heels throughout your week.. give some attention to the toes too! The pressure for holding your weight, falls on the toes; and the soles in that area can get a little tough too.

So handle it, with something like this:

Look! It's angled so you can get all of your trouble spots with ease.

Avoid using razors! They'll only make that skin come back harder than it was before. 

Try using a moisturizing face mask on your feet for extra pampering, once or twice a week. The Mint Julep Masque from the drugstore works perfect as a foot mask and will keep your feet fresh on those sweaty feet days.

Queen Helene: Mint Julep Masque

Freeman Feeling Beautiful: Clay Mask w Mint & Melon

And last..

Smith's: Rosebud Salve AKA "Old Faithful" good for knees..elbows too!

Slather this foot therapy or the salve on your heels and balls of the feet. Then cover your feet with a cool pair of Shea infused socks.

#random

All that's here is me and my random thoughts. Nudged by 'Keel's Simple Diary' by Philipp Keel: something like a Q&A journal. I ordered it from Target to give a friend about 3 Christmases ago. But I kept forgetting it at home... So I decided to keep it.

Date: 4/5/12
Your day was (choose one)
( ) a warning. ( ) winding. (x) wiping the slate.

Explanation: I'm in the process of erasing and editing a few things.

A mentality you have a hard time relating to: Complacent and pessimistic.  

Who is reliable? Me

Date: 4/11/12

On which Occasion are you most traditional? Hmm, pre-Aaqil, I would say on my birthday or at bedtime  out of selfishness. But because of my son I am forced into playing into every tradition and every holiday, even ones that I don't celebrate (from catching Leprechauns to surprise baskets and dreidels), just to teach him to appreciate other traditions. Yes, it gets exhausting!

Only this can calm you when you act obnoxious? Silence.. I'll begin to battle with my own thoughts and feel like an ass all on my own.

A great moment needs some rest. ( ) no kidding    (x) No
I great moment has to be taken in and lived in.. cuz it'll be gone quick! 

Powdering: Erica Mena

Can you tell that Erica Mena loves to be primped?

You know it's going to be a sexy shoot if Albee Johnson is styling it.. add Sonia Castleberry on hair, and me, Lydia Martin on face and you've got all the beauty fetishes covered. This shoot for Erica Mena was a breath of fresh air. She was open to trying edgy looks and once the camera was on.. she brought it. Even in a nauseating pose (like this one), with blood rushing to her temples!

Need I even mention the tricks, the Photographer Jose Guerra whipped out to pull off the perfect shots.

Erica wanted something edgy, we opted against a black lip or a deep dark plum.. been there done that. right? So I dug into my trustee, don't leave home with out'em pigments and turned the powder to paint for this vampy underworld look.

The deep tarnish stained lip was created with MAC Cosmetics Pigment: Forest Green and Clear Lip Glass.

A heavy contour to warm it up with MAC's Deep Dark Mineralize Skinfinish and N9

and I added a little bit of MAC's Rule eye shadow to the inner corners of the eyes, to balance out the look with the green lip.

I'll update soon with the other looks and how I transitioned them. Plus more on multi tasking products and why I need them in my life!

Pow!! Right in the kisser..

Most powerful makeup tip: Girls of color.. don't be afraid of color!! 
Color is our friend, you'll surprise yourself if you step out of finding the perfect shade of brown for your cheeks and lips. Not that it's not cool every once in a while when you're going for that neutral brown, Beyonce'd out, everything blends kind of look. But when you really want to pop (and I don't mean that scary kind of POP), color is the way to go!

Coral power! 

I call it my go-to color because, anyone can rock a coral.

I am all about a pretty coral lip from the peak of spring to late August. It's a look that gets hotter with the weather. It's just what we need in the spring to spruce things up and add some uummpph to the face.. and when your tan gets popping, it truly compliments the complexion.  

Try one of these.. in small doses.

Laura Mercier: Sheer Lip Colour in Kissed Lips

Too Faced: Full Bloom Cheek and Lip in Prim & Poppy

MAC Cosmetics: Vegas Volt

Take it easy: Sheer the color out by adding a little bit of sheer gloss to your lips to the lips after a good blot. 

Or you can use your lip brush or fore finger to press the color into the lips.
Then apply gloss on top.

For cheeky hues..
Full Bloom : Prim & Poppy works great as a blush for a fresh flush of color.
Alternative: Cherry Creme Blush by MAC Cosmetics

Have fun with it!

Okay, so I have one more spring obsession to share with you.. My Easter color fetish, that I never want to let go of...

Zoya Polish in Bevin It's a packed with color which means you can do fewer coats and Zoya lasts and lasts and lasts.. Love! It!!

Zoya Nail Polish: Bevin.. perfect for spring

Want to look older? Neglect your neck and hands..

Hell no!! Really who wants any inch of their body to look all aged and tired?! Don't we work to keep it all together and have them playing the guess her age game?

For skin so healthy it beams; get a tub of natural shea butter, sit it in a sink of hot water to liquify while you shower, before drying off, work liquid shea into your damp skin (body only). Add a couple of drops of lavender oil to fix the scent. Remember to always blot dry instead of rubbing.

To keep from giving my clients cooties to the face, I'm always washing or sanitizing my hands. Sometimes my hands can look a little.. neglected. We all do it.. wash and go, wash and go. Have you looked at your hands lately? Areas like the hands, neck and feet have thin delicate skin, which will tell your true age quicker than any other part of the body.

Nip it in the bud NOW!

Always treat your neck, the way you treat you face. If your face gets a serum, your neck should too. If you moisturize with La Mer.. hello!! share a little of that love with the neck, and work that puppy upward to beat gravity. Trust, I see creases on my clients necks before a wrinkle anywhere on the face.

For the hands:
Keep a small hand cream in your makeup bag and on your night stand. If you like to rock a teeny weeny purse and can't spare the room. SPARE IT by picking up a pretty little pill case (you've seen them) and neatly pack it with a nice skin salve. That way you always have it hand with out looking like the girl who packs an overnight bag in her purse.

Take care..

Fake Awake: with Yellow

a little 'chrome yellow', neat liner and a few coats of clean mascara

Until about 12:30 noon and sometimes.. until I end my day, I tend to feel like the bunny from Alice In Wonderland. Like, my watch always seems 2 days behind. Especially before I get that sigh of relief from my son finally pulling off on the bus or slow walking down the hall to his class when I have to drop him off.
Since he's been doing this light therapy thing for his eczema, making my 'start time' earlier than I desire; I've found myself having to fake awake. Not by taping my eyelids open (though sometimes, I wish) but by creating the illusion of a well rested night and easy paced day. 

Feather on MAC Cosmetics Chrome Yellow eye shadow from the inner corner of the eye to the brow bone with a fluffy shadow brush. Use matte orangey Rule MAC eye shadow in the crease to warm up the lids and define the shape of the eye with Swiss Chocolate MAC eye shadow. Use Handwritten MAC eye shadow in the outer corners for the evening.

Use eye shadow Canary Yellow MAC Cosmetics: MAC PRO fluffed all over the lids and use MAC Cosmetics Soba eye shadow in the crease ; Try this with mint greens in the crease like: MAC's Swimming it gives a pretty spring look.

Prep the lids with MAC Cosmetics Pearl Cream Color Base and dust Goldmine MAC eye shadow on the lids, Brule MAC Shadow under the brow; Soba MAC eye shadow to contour the eye shape and the grey toned Scene MAC eye shadow in the crease and outer corner to add a little smoke to this look  .

Going hard? Use a pale concealer (like close to ivory no matter what your complexion) or MAC's Cream Color Base in Pearl to prime your lids; pack on Chrome Yellow eye shadow with a stiff brush (something like a concealer brush), just on the lids and go into the crease with Swiss Chocolate eye shadow, then take a 'angled' brush and use Print MAC eye shadow or even a Black eye pencil (Pencil, NOT a Kohl..a Kohl may crease). Place a careful line ON the crease, starting from the inner corner pulling it out to the outer corner, make sure that the line doesn't go further than the length of the brow. Then blend the line with a clean pencil brush going over the line as if you are drawing it all over again.. this will soften the line. If you want to dim the line a little more, dust Soba MAC eye shadow over the line to finish.

In the spring I love to use pale yellows for day, and build for a more opaque tone in the evening.

Chrome Yellow MAC Eye Shadow

Substitute killers:

Inglot AMC: 60 Yellow
Chanel: Blazing Gold
Makeup Forever Pure Pigment: Yellow

Don't have 'em saying that you fell off!! Get it glamming STAT! for the spring.. skin first.

Finally spring is here! It seems warm weather is instantly mood altering. The drag in the ass picked up due to hazy, cold winter days finally lifts.. It's no longer fading to dark as the school bus drops the kids off.. And finally we can show a little skin without that extra layer for warmth.

I must admit though, that this spring has caught me off a little bit. I noticed I was behind in my upkeep when I ran for a pedi and was embarrassed by my prickly shins. I'm checking the shins next to me and everyone else is smooth.. Ummm, I've been keeping up ever since!

The winter always does a number on my already dry skin so my process has to be skin deep not just exterior. In case you need a lil' push to get it ALL together here a few tips to get your skin and look back to life.

image: shrimpsaladcircus.blogspot.com

Detox:

Get all the impurities out of your skin with a nice soak in the bath.

The Mix-   3/4 cup Epsom Salt   1/2 cup Sea Salt     1/4 cup Baking Soda

I've even given my son a 20 minute soak in this post winter potion! It's relaxing and your skin will feel squeaky clean!

combat funky breakouts with this citrus trick

If you're prone to breakouts on the body, in places like the chest, shoulders and back, get control of it now!!! With a citrus bath.

1. Roll 3 oranges on a cutting board or counter to get the juices going. Slice it. Drop the orange slices into your bath water.
2. Add a few drops of peppermint oil (available at most drug stores).
3. Add dried mint leaves
4. Soak for about 20-30 minutes

Orange is a natural astringent and will keep oily, pimple prone areas clear.
Peppermint oil moisturizes without over doing it.
Mint leaves give off relaxing and energizing aromatherapy.

Add a nice Billie Holiday, bluesy playlist and you're good!

Exfoliate!! It really makes a difference!

For the face I love Kiehl's Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub! It will leave your skin glooooowwwwinggg. It's all in the Papaya!

*Remember- don't go nuts applying extra pressure to your exfoliating.. let it do, what it do! If you over exfoliate you can irritate the skin.. which is a whole new problem, be gentle and repeat 2-3x's per week... At night.. Don't be lazy!
Exfoliating will make your skin absorb moisturizers better and provides a nice canvas for makeup!

Don't forget about the body and feet!

Try something like the Lemon + Sage Body Scrub by Bliss.. I love the smell of this in the morning! Wakes you up without being over powering, and it hydrates as it sloughs off dead skin.. you'll want to use this everyday! Oh, and no worries the lemon scent will not conflict with any of your following fragrances.
Oh and for the footsies... grab a natural pumice stone and go to work at least once a week. especially if you're trooping in a pair of heels throughout your week! That can do a number on your heels if you're not careful.

Pssstt.. here's one more thing..Try an Airbrush Tan! 

Me: Spraying @ the trends lounge during NYFW '12

Yes, no matter what your complexion is.. everyone can benefit from a good Airbrush Tan. You have to try it! It's the best thing to give your skin the glow that only the summer can give.. Tamar Braxton once referred to the glow that 'halo' around Jesus (funny). It is practicing Safe Sun so there's no guilt there and if you try upping the ante and getting a double spray on the legs.. you'll feel extra confident showing a little leg at the break of warm weather. I actually sprayed my super skeptical, sun-loving friend, who is actually... hmm Naomi Campbell's complexion and I think she wanted  to run off and drink the solution.. She loved it, because it gave her that glow that you wait all summer long to see!
Tips:
   1. You have to exfoliate first

   2. Research your place of choice to make sure the solution will be customized and natural

My Suggestion: Try Suvara (sorry, NY only), because they're solution is all natural, vitamin packed and will be customized to a perfect golden or bronze.. whatever your preference.