      The facial feature people focus on most is your mouth and just north of your pearly whites is your nose - noticeable from most angles and usually crammed with impurities and closed pores, this part of your face can be annoying to keep blackhead free. I know people do suffer from blackheads on other parts of the face, and even the body - luckily I only get them on my nose. Blackhead removing strips are a great way to remove those yucky blackheads, reduce excess oil and reduce the appearance of pores. Sephora Charcoal Nose Strips are a new product from their facial/body masks line. These anti-blackhead nose strips are enriched with charcoal - known for powerful absorption and cleansing. These strips retail for $3 each (just one strip). The Bocsia Black Strips retail for $28/2.33 per strip (12 nose strips). I wanted to like the Sephora strips, but was disappointed with the results. The strips have an unpleasant chemical scent. I think the goal was to make them smell fresh, but it's too strong and not nice. The strips went on easily, but after 20 minutes of drying, I pulled off the strip and was left with globs of black glue-like stuff on my face (pictured here). Boscia Pore Purifying Black Strips are my favorite. Like Sephora Charcoal Nose Strips, Boscia Black Strips contain charcoal that draws out impurities. These detoxifying strips are easy to apply - cleanse face, wet your nose, place the strip across your nose, press (I like to wet the strip for extra contouring around my nose), wait 15-20 minutes and peel off from the outer-corners in. These strips are odor free and get the job done. I've also tried Nivea Clear-up Strips in the past and they too have an intense smell. Dear cosmetic companies, nobody wants a sheet of perfume sitting their nose for 15 minutes. While Nivea does have nose, chin and t-zone strips in one box (excellent idea), the scent is too much for me. 
  I already have a blotterazzi and many beauty blenders, but I couldn't resist the beautyblender + Too Faced holiday kit. I'm like a deer in headlights when it comes to light pink! I love this set, especially the mini highlighting compact by Too Faced. I'm lovin' the light pink original beautyblender. Good to know - wash your beautyblender prior to the first use and after each makeup application, and always wet your beautyblender before applying makeup - I wet my beautyblender in water, squeeze out excess water and then apply a few drops of oil (Farsali Rose Gold Elixir is amazing). The blotterazzi compact is super cute and the teardrop shaped makeup sponges are more subtle than the original bright fuchsia blotterazzi. The blotterazzi is a reusable oil absorbing sponge. There are two pink sponges inside the plastic mirrored compact. The water drop shaped compact has a vent at the back and a clear, hygienic separator to keep the sponges fresh. The unique shape (a flat version of the beautyblender) allows you to blot the contours of your face with ease while removing excess oil. The Too Faced Candlelight Glow highlighting powder duo comes in a small custom-designed compact. The Rosy Glow highlighting powder diffuses light, creating a subtle glow. Apply to your cheekbones, nose and brow line for a lit-from-within look. This mini Candlelight Glow compact is perfect for on-the-go touchups and travel. 
  I usually ignore emails from Sephora and most other brands. The constant parade of 'new arrivals' emails can be annoying. I KNOW, I should just unsubscribe, but maybe I'll be in the mood for a looksie, or if I'm lucky there's a discount in there?! Since learning about Sephora's Beauty Insider Rewards Bazaar (I'll come back to that), I'm anxiously waiting for notifications from Sephora ..and it was my new fondness for Sephora emails that led me to a VIB Rouge in-store event. Perks - facials, makeovers, 4X the points and a gift with purchase. While I thought the event would be a little more extravagant, it was fun to stock my basket with all the stuff I'd been eyeing since the invite, and get 4X the points. The Georgetown location offered snacks and beverages and the staff were super friendly. I didn't indulge in the makeover/facials (I hate people touching my face), but I'd imagine it was fun for the other ladies. Sephora's VIB program reigns supreme - you get gifts, points for additional gifts, invitations to events... Sephora's Beauty Insider Rewards Bazaar is long overdue. Not sure if its just VIB Rouge or all VIB's? Every Tuesday and Thursday, new AMAZING rewards are available for 100 - 20000+ points (no purchase necessary). I have a ridiculous amount of points, and am super excited about the new program. Will let ya know if I snag any exceptional gifts.
   I'm dedicated to trying each mask in the Sephora collection. I really like the natural fiber eye masks and the line has expanded to include a lip masks, face masks, hand masks and a foot mask (I'm excited about that one). Yesterday was 'mask' day.. The Shea lip mask is a jelly-like, lip shaped mask that fits over the lips. The mask has an opening, so you can breathe easily and I guess talk if you had to. The texture is super strange and it does tingle a little. The mask is over-sized - anyone with lips that big, should really ease up on the fillers! The Shea lip mask is said to nourish and moisturize in 15 minutes. You can wear it sitting, standing, walking around, and it doesn't slide or drip. After 15 minutes, I removed the mask, wiped the access from my skin and left the remaining on my lips. DO NOT LICK YOUR LIPS - it doesn't taste good. Post application your lips feel a little sticky, but they appear moisturized. Jelly-like feeling aside, I like it. I'm definitely gonna repurchase during the cold season, when my lips are dry and chapped. The Orchid eye mask scent is subtle and lovely (like a flower). My rosacea didn't flare up, but I had a little irritation around the outer edge. It's common for my skin to react to products. My under eye felt a little tighter, but I didn't see dramatic results from the one-time use. The Orchid eye mask is for anit-aging and smoothing, and like any anti-aging product, you need to use it for months, before you'll see any great results. The hand masks are fun and my favorite. There are two, non-drip hand gloves in a pack. When you open the packet, you'll notice the gloves are attached - tear at the perforated line, put them on, and pull the tabs around your wrist to seal in the moisturizing treatment. The inside has a fiber lining drenched in solution and the outside a plastic lining. Best thing about these masks is you can go about your business while wearing them (I vacuumed my house). The Aloe Vera hand mask is for ultra-moisturizing and beautifying (beautifying?). The fresh scent is amazing and the concept of a moisturizing glove is great. After use, my cuticles appeared nourished and my hands felt soft. I will repurchase and can't wait to try the foot mask.
    The damage was irreversible and getting worse, so I went back to black (again). I couldn't handle the greenish blonde, gray roots and orange ends, and another coat of bleach would've completely destroyed my hair. The first black dye job didn't take and I had to go back one week later for another. After just one wash, the color diminished and the greenish/blonde was visible again (pictured here). During the first month post botched, bleaching job, I lost a lot of hair in the shower, while styling my hair (I was super gentle with the blow-dryer and absolutely no straightener), and while sleeping. There was hair all over my house! My hair is broken half way and even down to one inch in length in some areas. It feels like slime when I wash it and despite the two Olaplex treatments (one, two and three), I don't see a significant improvement. I had to consider a new hair style, cause my straw-like do was terrible. I went to Miami to see my long-time, AMAZING stylist for treatments and a cut. The hair on the top of my head and at the front was more destroyed than the back and had to be chopped off. I was hoping for the Alexa Chung style, but it didn't work with my face, so we cut bangs. My stylist in Miami suggested Kérastase Bain Force Architecte shampoo, Kérastase Resistance Cement Anit-usure Strengthening Anti-breakage Cream, Bumble and Bumble Mending Complex and Bumble and Bumble Repair. I was harping on Olaplex bad and explained how I was loosing so much hair and saw no improvement. He says Olaplex does work and links the broken bonds in your hair, but mine was so damaged that only time and proper care would repair it. My stylist said that it may not seem like the Olaplex is helping, but maybe if I hadn't been using it, my hair would be in worse condition - I can't imagine it being worse than this! I'm no hair specialist, but from my experience, I'm gonna say that Olaplex may work and link the broken bonds in your hair caused by chemical treatments, but there are limits. Olaplex can't immediately repair damage caused by hair bleach and will not maintain your hair through 5+ applications of bleach. Hair stylists may be able to push the envelope further, but Olaplex is not a miracle treatment and won't maintain the integrity of your hair if you push the bleaching process too far. Unfortunately, I've learned this the hard way. The stylists who bleached my hair went too far and greatly compromised the integrity of my hair. For details on my botched, bleaching job see below.. 
          While laying in bed perusing the Internet for a hairstyle to mask the damage from my recent salon experience, I can feel my face heating up (rosacea - there's no hiding when I'm mad). I gotta get out of bed and tell you about my botched, bleaching experience. Imma try to keep it short, but it's been tragic watching my hair deteriorate and I have a lot to bitch about! I wanna start by saying, I'm no stranger to bleaching my hair. I tried to go from black to blonde last year. My stylist at the time insisted we take it slow and after two rounds (four weeks apart), I decided to go back to black. I didn't like the in-between, warm shades. There was minimal damage to my hair - it was dry for a few weeks, but the integrity of my hair remained strong. My recent bleaching experience was very different.. My stylist was on vacation, so I booked an appointment with the salon owner. She started off with her thirty-second elevator pitch and I gotta say, I was impressed. She had decades of experience and was operating out of her second salon. Y'all know I have color-treated, black hair. At the time it was short, very healthy, and super shiny. The salon owner asked if I'd consider lightening my hair and I explained the experience I had one year prior (see video on the blog). She said there is a new product called 'Olaplex', that will allow a stylist to bleach the clients hair many times without comprising the integrity of the hair. She claimed that I could go from black to blonde in one day and my hair would remain healthy. I went home and researched Olaplex. There is not one bad review on this stuff. I bought into the hype and three weeks later was ready to bleach the shit out of my hair! I'd had black hair long enough and the trendy silver/blonde shade was a much-needed change. Eight weeks later, I realize that these reviews are not entirely true - Imma call it 'photoshopped' reviews. They ommit the 'hair drama' and 'time-lapse', to produce a dramatic hair transformation and promote their expertise. My stylist was back in the salon and hesitant to make me silver/blonde, but the salon owner was there to mentor and seemed confident. The first bleach was on the ends, the second bleaching went from root to ends and the third was a purple colored bleach to combat the orange. At this time, my head is burning, we're all tired and my stylist says it's enough for today. I was in shock - they expected me to walk around for one week with bright 'leeloo' hair?! To add salt to my wounds, I had a birthday dinner to attend that weekend. FUCK! The following morning, I woke up and felt crusty blobs in my hair. After further examination, I realized I had many burns on my scalp that had secreted and clumped in my hair throughout the night. Not pleasant. Oh and it's been eight weeks and the wound (pictured above) just healed completely. One week later, I went back to hopefully finalize the process and leave with silver/blonde hair. The first bleaching (fourth in total) didn't remove the orange, so we did another. Then she applied the gray color. I honestly didn't think the gray was gonna cover the orange. Now my hair is green and both stylists are panicking. The salon owner calls Wella and Olaplex for advice. This is a bad sign.. She says 'you know what we have to do' - 'go back to black'. Are you fucking kidding me?! After thirty minutes of them pondering the botched job done on my hair, speaking in Dutch (I don't speak Dutch), she suggested we apply a blonde color. I asked if there was bleach in it (it's blonde after all) and she said no, just color. The color wasn't evenly applied and my head started burning (hmm..). I told my stylist and she said 'can you go another ten minutes?' I'm desperate, so ok.. The green diminished, but I was not happy leaving the salon AGAIN with hideous hair color. It was greenish/yellow, with gray roots and orange ends! Oh and my scalp was bright red. While the interim greenish/blonde shade was bearable, the damage was irreversible and getting worse everyday. I couldn't get a brush through my hair and had to go back for treatments and a blow-dry twice a week. My stylist said the treatments were at her expense. Oh gee thanks. You destroyed my hair, it looks terrible, you still charged me full price and for every blow-dry, but you'll cover the cost of treatments - you're so generous (insert sarcastic tone). I know I agreed and I have myself to blame. If something is too good to be true, it ain't true! I still can't help but feel mislead by the salon owner - she was negligent and experimented on my hair, lacked hair bleaching/Olaplex knowledge and showed no empathy for the damage caused. She didn't apologize, accept blame, say hello, or look me in the eyes during the following weeks of treatments and blow-drys. My stylist didn't apologize either. During my last blow-dry she said, 'I didn't want to do this and now it's my problem'. I could sense that she was upset with her superior and felt bad about the outcome, but still showed little compassion. It's unfortunate that she will go down with the ship, but I had to share my experience - I realize she didn't endorse this hair transformation, but she did administer it. You can't go from black to blonde in one day. It takes time and patience. Don't trust any stylist that claims you can go from black to blonde in hours or that Olaplex will maintain your healthy hair through five+ bleachings. It's not the fountain of youth for hair and can't instantly reverse the harsh effects of hair bleach. 
 
 Size and shape of a mascara brush, and density and flexibility of the bristles are important when choosing a mascara. The formula is relevant, but they're all similar and the brush is what really defines a great mascara. Depending on your needs, eye shape and lash length, the right wand is necessary. Buxom Lash mascara is my favorite. The hourglass-shaped brush has long, closely packed plastic bristles that evenly coat your lashes without clumping. Want length and drama? You will love Buxom Lash. For a more natural look, start at the lash line and work your way up (or down), applying layers until you've reached your desired thickness. This will create a curled lash with more definition at the lash line. I focus on my outer lash line and apply less as I move towards the inner corner of my eye. For thick, dramatic lashes, apply one or two coats on the ends first and then apply to the lash line. Love to layer coats of mascara - this is the brush for you. The larger your mascara brush, the more difficult it is to reach the outer lash line and coat your bottom lashes. The micro wand is perfect for coating 'every' lash. Before applying my volumizing Buxom Lash mascara, I apply Intensifying Long-Wear Mascara by Bobbi Brown at the outer corner of my eyes. Heavier mascara at the lash line and outer corner creates drama and intensifies your look. Want thicker, plumped lashes? Try a large, dense brush. Oversized wands pick up a lot of product and thus allow you to apply more product with every sweep. Wiggle the brush at the roots, so the fibre bristles can wrap around your lashes for 360° coating. This method will seriously plump your lashes and create major volume. Tapered wands are a two-in-one brush shape. The densely packed fibre bristles and thick base will plump your lashes. The skinny tip allows for more precision and coating those hard to reach lashes. The curved brush is shaped similar to your lash line and allows for even coverage. This brush is great for curling your lashes. A Spiral brush or curved bristles grab onto your lashes, coating every little hair evenly. You can create serious volume with the style wand. I had never seen a Round brush until Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes mascara. I love this mascara and the brush is excellent for precise application. You can focus on each section individually, rather than the 'all-over sweep' you get with tradition brushes. The round brush is also great for coating the outer corner giving you a more dramatic look. 
  10 days left in Amsterdam and then I'm moving back to the U.S. - YAY! The house is packed, and 'I've' been packing my body with all the yummy (unhealthy) foods Amsterdam has to offer. After weeks of consuming anything and everything, I'm feelin' a little heavy (in every sense of the word). I need to kickstart a healthier lifestyle and rejuvenate my body. For the next 72 hours, I'm focused on my go-to juice cleanse by Juice Brothers and favorite teatox, SkinnyMint. No food, just liquids! It's not as hard as you think - you just gotta stay focused on the benefits. I've done many juice cleanses and favor the green juices over fruity blends. Too much sweet, makes me crave salt, but the bitter greens deter me from sneaking salty snacks. Master cleanse is my favorite; maple syrup, lemon and cayenne make the perfect morning drink. Oh, and the nut milks are a nice treat at the end of the day. I honestly don't struggle with juice cleansing; especially the hard cleanse by Juice Brothers. I think they key is to find juices that taste good. I'll also consume about 4 cups of green tea, SkinnyMint tea and 2 liters of water a day. Yeah, Imma be on the toilet all-day long! Green tea is a miracle beverage. I drink Sencha green tea everyday to keep the bloat to a minimum, and reap the health benefits the antioxidants and nutrients have on the body. After I finish the juice cleanse, it's salad, fruit, veggies and chicken for the next few weeks. Imma look fabulous, my skin will glow and I'll feel energetic again. Sometimes your body just a needs a restart and after 3 days of liquids, even green beans taste good! You will be inclined to eat healthier. Juice/tea cleansing tips: Set reasonable goals (you can't go a week without food). If you absolutely have to eat something, opt for avocado with olive oil or lemon. Salt-free nuts will also curve your cravings. Choose juice blends that you'll enjoy (well, mostly). Do the cleanse with a partner, so you can support each other and smack the other if they're dreaming about french fries! 
|
