NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick Swatch/Review

The Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick line from NYX Cosmetics is one of the latest lines released in Fall 2015 from the company.  Now I know I'm kinda late to the party, but after hearing a lot of my friends talk about how much they loved these new lipsticks.... I just had to give it a try.  I rushed to the nearest Target to get a hold of them just to see how great these items would be.  I'm really hesitant when it it comes to buying drug store lipsticks...  While I prefer drugstore prices, I always have a hard time finding drugstore lipsticks that are able to evenly coat my naturally pigmented lips.  Most times I end up with a beautifully swatched bottom lip and then an upper lip that looks like I haven't applied any color to it... I'm pretty sure most of my melanin rich sisters can understand this dilemma when choosing the perfect lipstick.  

Watch the video below to see the lipsticks swatched on my lips.  I've also collaborated with fellow youtuber Jenni Koutur to show you how these lipsticks look on different lips.  Continue reading for a detailed review as well as information on how to find these lipsticks… ENJOY!

I went straight to the cosmetics aisle once I arrived in Target and guess what.... They were having a sale... You know the types of sales where if you buy 2 items you get a $5 gift card in return?  Now I'm truly a sucker for these types of promotions... I'd only come in to buy a few of the lipsticks, but with an offer like this I thought, what the heck... Let me try them all.  I was able to buy 10 of the 12 colors from this line all from Target.  They can be found by clicking the link here and are priced at $7.  I was able to save 5% off of my total also because I am a Target DebitCard holder.  Two of the colors I did have to purchase at Ulta.  I'm not sure if these two are exclusive to Ulta stores, but they also retail for $7.  Ulta does sell all 12 of the colors from this line.  If you sign up for their member's reward program you will be able to get $3.50 off your total of $10 or more at checkout... Yep... another deal.  

Aisle display of the lipsticks at my local Target 

The NYX website boast that the NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks will glide on and set into a striking matte finish.  It states that they are velvety soft and waterproof creating a long-lasting lippie with a positively polished look with every swipe.  The lipsticks are housed in a barrel tube with a sponge applicator.  Besides the vibrant colors, the sponge applicator would probably have to be the best part of this line.  It provided me with the ability to delicately stroke the color onto my lips.  I was also able to easily apply added color where needed... Especially my upper lip.  This lipstick does set to a matte finish... sort of.... Usually when I think about matte finish lipsticks the first thing I think about is drying.  I saw on a lot of reviews that other girls did not appreciate the drying aspect of this lipstick.  I, on the other hand, did not find these lipsticks to be that drying... Especially compared to other lines that feature matte finishes.  Out of all the matte lipsticks I've tried, this one is truly the least drying.  I have not worn the lipsticks all day to test their durability but I will definitely update this article to let you guys know if they truly are waterproof and long lasting. 

L to R:  Stone Fox, Life's A Beach, Cherry Skies, Soft-Spoken, Orange County, Sway, Sandstrom, Pink Lust, Tea & Cookies, Amethyst, Kitten Heels and Vintage

Overall I would give this line 4 out of 5 stars.  It provides radiant colors at an affordable price.  And though light colors did take a couple of applications, I do believe that the colors provide an even finish on my pigmented lips.  I would definitely suggest buying these lippies.  I would have to say Amethyst is my favorite color.  Have you tried these lippies? Let me know which one if your favorite… 

Jenni Koutour is a fellow youtuber who also happens to be my cousin.... Her youtube channel is filled with all things hair, fashion and beauty...  She also swatched 5 of the lipsticks from this line... I absolutely adore Cherry Skies and Soft Spoken on her... Head over to her channel to check it out!!!! 

L to R:  Stone Fox, Life's A Beach, Cherry Skies, Soft-Spoken, Orange County, Sway, Sandstrom, Pink Lust, Tea & Cookies, Amethyst, Kitten Heels and Vintage 

How I Refresh My Old Braidouts (with Video and Product Reviews)

So wash day is tomorrow, but you have somewhere to go tonight.  You've been able to rock your braid-out for the past 5 days but it just doesn't have anymore life to it.  You have about 10 minutes to devote to your hair before getting ready... So what do you do?  Refresh those curls!!  Below you will find a video explaining how I refresh my curls in less than 10 minutes.  Each product helps to revitalize each strand without the additional drying time needed when styling freshly washed hair.  After watching the video continue reading to find a detailed review on each product used.  Hope you enjoy!   

I start off by sectioning my hair into 4 equal parts. I usually like to start with the back of my hair first since it takes the longest to dry. One thing I like about this quick refresher is that the products don't saturate my hair too much. I have low porosity hair and it seems like a drop of water takes at least 2 hours just to dry.

The Alba Botanica Hawaiian Coconut Milk Leave-in Conditioning Mist provides my hair with just the right amount of moisture to prepare my hair for this refresher.  I purchased my bottle at my local Sprouts Farmers' Market for about $7, but I've also seen it at some CVS.  This has been my go-to leave in conditioner when prepping for any style.  With ingredients such as water, glycerin, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, sweet almond oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein, and coconut, pineapple, papaya and mango fruit extracts, the makers state that this product will moisturize and quench dull, thirsty, tangled tresses and protects hair prior to heat styling.  It exactly does just that!! A thorough mist over my dry hair to reactivates and tame my unruly curls.

Once I've made sure to distribute the first product evenly through out my hair, I pull out what I believe to be the key to refreshing my curls, the Camille Rose Fresh Curl Hair Smoother.  I picked this product up from my local Target.  Now I must admit... Camille Rose products are usually on the higher end when it comes to natural hair products.  I believe this bottle cost about $14 in the store.  I shop at Target a lot and usually wait for them to have a sale.  Just recently there was a ad going on for $5 back for every $20 spent on beauty items.  Couple sales like this with the Target Cartwheel app and you can almost always get these high end products for almost nothing.  This product has ingredients like deionized water, castor seed oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein, glycerin, and avocado oil. These ingredients together act to easily detangle the hair and serve as an anti-humectant.  Essentially this product helps with reducing frizz by blocking moisture. Living in a humid city such as Atlanta this product really comes in handy to smooth out my tresses... It's just an added bonus that it helps with the detangling process.  

Last, but certainly not least is Carol's Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey.  Now I must admit, I've always been a little weary of Carol's Daughter products.  I've tried many of her lines but none seemed to work with my hair... until I discovered this.  My sister would always boast about how much she loved this product.... so I decided to give it the try.  I picked this product up from my local Target for about $12.  The Mimosa Hair Honey line was actually marketed for protective styles, but that didn't stop me from giving it a try on my tresses.  This shine pomade is the finisher of almost any style I do with my hair.  Ingredients include Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Annatto Seed, Lavender, Sage, Red Clover, Rosemary, Nettle, Corn Oil and Orchanet.  And as if the ingredients didn't give it away... it smells AMAZING.  I reach for this product not only before braiding or twisting, but I also grab it when I'm getting ready to unravel my twists and braids.  This thick honey pomade tames fly aways and frizz without weighing the hair down.   It also gives your hair an awesome shine that makes it look conditioned and healthy.

Flirts in Skirts | Valentine's Day LookBook

Hey ya'll! I know it's been a long time since I've blogged, but I have been swamped in school.  I still find it amazing that I had the time to do a shoot with a presentation and preliminary exam coming up soon.  Nevertheless, I'm back and blogging… And what better way to bring it back than during a girl's favorite holiday… Valentine's Day!!!

Valentine's Day has always been a great holiday for me because I'm obsessed with chocolate!! Yeah thats right… Forget all the flowers and dates and just give me the chocolate…  and after I've sat at home and eaten all of the chocolate I can for one day, I like to head out with friends or with that special someone and dress things up.  Those of you that know me or have read past blogs know that my wardrobe mainly consists of comfy chic items.  I'm always on the go with school and usually only buy items that I can wear all day and feel comfortable.  But on Valentine's Day I like to change things and go major girly… And what is more girly than a pink skirt?!?!  Below you will find three different outfits I've put together for Valentine's Day with each outfit featuring a pink skirt. If you like any of the items, keep reading and I will tell you where I purchased each item so that you can get your very own.

I recently discovered  Charlotte Russe carried plus size clothing.  I remember in college all of my friends loved Charlotte Russe and when they walked into the store, I went straight to the jewelry or shoe section.  I literally could not fit anything in that store.  This really upset me because my friends would always be able to find something really cute and at affordable prices.  Now, 4 years later, I get to as well.  The skirts in the first two looks and the bodysuit in the last look came from Charlotte Russe.  If I remember correctly, I got a really good deal on all items during an online sale.  I think I paid like $6 each for the tulle skirt and bandage skirt and $10 for gray bodysuit.  Yep, thats right… All three items were purchased for under $25!!! Now that's a steal!!!! I suggest frequently visiting the site before purchasing because there seems to be a different deal going on every other day.

First Look:  Breakfast at Tiffany's

So my first look is my spin on Breakfast at Tiffany's… More like brunch with my girls.  When I was single, my single friends and I would get together on Valentine's Day for brunch at our favorite restaurant… We not only did this on V-Day but basically every chance we got… lol… what can I say? We really like brunch.  Brunch is sort of our time to get together and catch up with what's going on in our lives.  Every now and again, we like to dress things up and look real fancy.

 The top in this first look was actually purchased maybe 2 years ago at Target.  I found it in the clearance section for under $10.  I had so many plans for this bodysuit but could never find the right bottoms to pair it with… Fast forward two years later and I finally found the right bottoms lol.  My shoes were purchased in college from Dillard's… The brand is Gianni Bini.  Though this is possibly my second time wearing the shoes, they are so comfortable.  I doubt this style is still available seeing as though I purchased them in 2012… but you can never go wrong with a nice heel sandal.

Skirt Found Here; Similar Top Found Here; Similar Shoe Found Here

Being busy with school is definitely one of the reasons I haven't posted a blog in a while… but the second reason is because all my friends are busy too and I have nobody to take pictures of me… So I really appreciate my friend Shari helping me out with this one… I even told her to dress up so she can take a couple of pics too… I didn't tell her much about my looks just that I would be shooting a post for Valentine's Day-- and what do you know? She shows up in a tulle skirt as well… So there you have it ladies… 

Tulle Skirt = Valentine's Day lol…

Second Look: Date Night

So Bae has already told you he's got Valentine's Day covered.. and if your dreams have come true, he's made reservations at that fancy little restaurant you've been wanting to try.  He finally got it right, ladies.  So you look into your closet to find something that shows off your figure just right.  This bandage skirt from Charlotte Russe does just that--hugs my curves in just the right place!  I paired it with a top that I've had for so long I can't even remember where I got it… Oh wait… JcPenny… Yep! I absolutely love this top because I can pair it with jeans for a quick cute look.  The shoes, like at least 90% of the shoes in my closet, were purchased in college.  Let's just say during college my line sisters and I totally visited Dillard's and DSW once a week.  I hardly even buy shoes these days unless it's flats for work or church… These shoes were purchased from DSW and the brand is Chinese Laundry.  While they're not the most comfortable, they probably are one of my most worn heels.  I just slip a gel insole in them before I go out and before you know it, I'm dancing the night away and my feet aren't even hurting.

Skirt Found Here; Similar Top Here and Here; Similar Shoes Here

Third Look: V-Day to the Max(i)

Now this third look is by far my favorite look because it fits in with my comfy chic style… And I get to wear flats….  Now I'm kinda short so you really can't see the flats I had on with this outfit, but they were a really cute pair of sparkly Steve Madden Conncord Flats like the ones being sold here.  The maxi skirt was purchased last year from Target.  I absolutely love Target clothes… in fact… I may do a haul from them soon.  The gray top is actually a bodysuit from Charlotte Russe.  Though it's not pictured here, the top has a cute little key hole on the back.  This look is truly universal.  No matter what plans you have on Valentine's Day you can wear this outfit.  

Similar Skirt Here; BodySuit Found Here

Well, folks there you have it… My Valentine's Day LookBook!  I hope you enjoyed it…. Have suggestions for future looks and blog post? Let me know… See ya soon! 

Go Fourth and Fashion!

Fourth of July is right around the corner… and believe it or not, the Fourth is one of my favorite holidays … Not only because of the good food, spending time with family, and watching fireworks, but because I get to plan my Fourth of July outfit…There's just something very patriotic in planning an outfit for that day…  Take a look at all my social media feeds and you will find that on the Fourth I am smiling and sporting my red, white and blue…

Instead of buying something new this year, I decided to look in my closet and do a little matching.  The outfit below has been in my closet for at least a year… The red and blue printed pants came from Old Navy, while the blue peplum top came from Forever21.  Because these items are so old it was hard to find the direct link to them… But don't worry… I've included some looks that you can find right now for some last minute Fourth of July fashion ideas…

Still in need of an outfit for the Fourth? Check out these sites below. 

A Fashion to Figure Fourth by curvescouragecurlscouturechrist on Polyvore

Fourth of July by curvescouragecurlscouturechrist featuring high waisted jeans

Sitting on Top of the World

During the summer we are always on the go... Heading to this BBQ, that festival, this picnic, that party... I think you pretty much get it... Summer is all about fun and food, but let's not forget about fashion!  

I've always lived outside the city in the suburbs.  While living in Mississippi this wasn't a problem... A 15 mile drive only took you 15 minutes... Moving to Atlanta, however, changed my life... Traffic, traffic, traffic... This small town girl just could not get used to a 15 mile drive turning into an hour long road trip.  For the first 6 months I was literally late to everything...  I even arrived to my own pinning ceremony an hour late because I was stuck in traffic...

Fast forward... I've been living here for two years and I think I've finally gotten a hang of traffic... I know when and when not to leave my house lol... But most of all I've learned how to pack for a day.. Yes really... Everyday before I leave my house I pack a bag for the day...  It usually includes some workout clothes, pjs and an outfit for the next day... You just never know...  Especially after Snow Apocalypse '14 -- Yes I survived after being stranded... 

Just a little background...  

I live 33 miles north of Downtown Atlanta (according to Siri it would take me 51 minutes to get to downtown); my school is 23 miles from where I live (it takes 48 minutes to get to my school); however, my school is only 13 miles/25 minutes away from downtown... 

I spend most of my day at school... After classes there's always that one friend that wants to go somewhere downtown... But wait... I can't just rush home and change my outfit...  That's when I finally got the hang of Day to Night looks.. I always went places in my "school clothes" because I just refused to drive all the way back home and then head back downtown... In case you guys haven't checked... Gas is a little too high... and AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT!! 

Since I've moved to Atlanta and now that I'm in professional school my wardrobe has totally changed... I find myself only buying clothes that are functional to my lifestyle... Can I wear it to school?  How can I transform it in case a friend wants to go out to dinner or to a party after class?  The easiest transformation pieces for me are skirts and dresses...  I always find myself taking a dress and pulling a skirt over it... Check out this Day to Night look I pulled off...  

This first look is perfect for brunch with friends or a BBQ with coworkers 

Have a date planned after that BBQ?  Slip off the skirt to show a more fitted dress perfect for any date! 

Dress from Target, Shoes from ASOS 

Skirt from Ross

Pictures were taken on the Jackson Street Bridge, Atlanta, Ga