Rihanna Viva Glam (First look)

I said I wouldn't indulge on this MAC Rihanna collection. Clearly I've failed! LOL This is just a quick look to share with you ladies in case you thought about purchasing. I will post swatches later! I usually don't buy lipsticks in a frost finish but I have to say upon my first look I feel like this will be a great wearable color.

The LOC Method...My Curly Hair Routine

Keep those curls moisturized!

There are tons and tons of blogs, YouTube videos and websites explaining and demonstrating the LOC Method so I won't bore you guys with that. This post is to explain my curly hair routine, what I use and how I incorporate the LOC Method into my regimen.

I start by Co-Washing my hair with As I Am Coconut CoWash

Liquid - Water and any water based leave in (water being the first ingredient) As I Am Leave in and Creme of Nature Argan Oil Perfect 7 leave in are my staple products. (I just started using the Aphogee Keratin Green Tea Restructurizer so I cannot say this is a staple yet but I do like it so far)

Oil - Grapeseed oil. This is what I use but you can use whatever oil your hair likes

Cream - As I am Double Butter Cream...HOLY GRAIL STATUS!! I love this stuff and cant rave enough about it. In the past when I ran out I used my daughters Bee Mine Luscious Cream Moisturizer which is a holy grail product for her hair.

My routine:
Products are applied in the order listed above. I co-wash with As I Am Coconut Co-Wash, add As I Am leave in AND/OR Creme of Nature Argan Oil Perfect 7 leave in (yes, I sometimes use both), add grapeseed oil, add As I Am Double Butter Cream. Then I style as I normally would using Eco Styler Olive Oil gel as my styler. My hair stays moisturized for days. To refresh my hair I might spritz with a little water to "wake up" my curls then apply a teeny tiny amount of gel to re-style areas that were smashed during sleep.

Below is information on the LOC Method from another website. (naturallycurly.com)

"If your curls absorb more water than a Sham Wow towel yet they're forever crying out for more moisture, then it may just be time to try out the LOC method."

"What sets the LOC method apart from other methods is the layering of products in a specific order to maximize moisture retention. The layer of moisture is effectively sealed in by two products which are both known to be excellent sealants: oil and butter. Both oil and butter are praised for their ability to create a layer along the hair shaft that helps to prevent water from being evaporated from it and lost to the atmosphere thus helping the hair to stay moisturized for longer. By using oil then a thicker heavier butter on top you are ensuring that as much moisture as possible remains on the hair shaft which is beneficial for curlies who struggle to maintain moisturized hair."

Natural Hair: Fun with Buns! pt.2

Big Girl Hair

My 7yr old Princess asked me for "big girl hair" for Christmas. I came up with this super cute and simple, age appropriate style!

I started with a part from the crownof her head then ear to ear and flat twisted that section of hair over to one side and secured the end with a rubber band.

Then I gathered her hair up into a high ponytail. Once ponytail was secure I stretched the twist around the base of the ponytail and secured in place with a hair pin.

Finally I wrapped her hair around the base of the ponytail in a circular motion creating the bun. I pinned and tucked until the desired bun shape was formed.

That's it!!

Products used: Bee Mine Luscious Moisturizer
Curls Passion Fruit Control Paste for her edges

DIY Deep Conditioner

Homemade Deep Conditioner





Avocado:
Avocado is a great conditioner and moisturizer. Using avocado on your hair will help deep condition it and prevent breakage and dryness. Avocado extends a rich supply of vitamins and nutrients and encourages hair growth and maintain overall hair health.













Coconut Oil:
Use coconut oil to achieve smooth, healthy hair. Its small molecular structure allows for easy absorption by the hair shaft. High levels of saturated fats lend it ultra-hydrating properties that infuse hair with moisture and softness. It is a particularly effective treatment for dry, damaged or over processed hair.














Jojoba Oil: 
Promotes new healthier hair and helps to strengthen the existing hair (avoid hair loss). Acts as moisturizer; even better, it produces a thin film on hair shaft and scalp to maintain  a moisturized condition. Jojoba oil closely matches the sebum, your hair’s natural oil and can be used to balance oil production at the scalp, aiding overproducing glands that cause oily hair. Jojoba is also non-greasy and gives your hair a healthy shine.














Grape Seed Oil:
Is super light and moisturizing and can benefit all types of curls. Grapeseed oil is a  natural heat protectant and can actually be used as a thermal agent up to 425 degrees when blow drying or flat ironing. This oil works great to strengthen each strand, increase manageability and can also be used to combat dry scalp and dandruff. Because it is lighter weight than many other oils, such as olive oil, it absorbs into the skin and hair much faster, and without weighing hair down. Grapeseed oil is rich in vitamin E and linoleic acid, two things that will strengthen your hair.













Honey:
Honey contains vitamins, minerals, is antibacterial, acts as a humectant (attracts moisture), and has incredible healing properties.  The anti-bacterial property of honey helps to have a healthy scalp. This in turn reduces the risk of dandruff and thus, hair fall out. The high sugar content of honey helps to retain water and thereby maintains moisture content of hair. In fact this moisture content helps to keep the cuticle soft.










Egg: Eggs are rich in protein. Protein helps to make the hair follicle stronger and stronger strands of hair are less likely to break. Therefore, you’ll have fewer split ends. Eggs are also known to smooth the hair. Smooth hair is easier to manage and less likely to become tangled or knotted. Eggs act like a conditioner and moisturize dry hair. Eggs also make dull hair shine because unlike shampoo, eggs maintain the hair’s natural oils that shampoos tend to strip away. 

**If you/your hair are protein sensitive DO NOT use eggs in your DIY Conditioner**













Olive Oil: Olive oil is loaded with antioxidants, which can keep the skin of your scalp in better shape. Olive oil can make your hair shiny and soft. That's why it has been used for centuries as a natural hair conditioner. Olive oil has the ability to treat split ends, heal dandruff and add shine. Olive oil contains omega fatty acids, specifically omega-6 and omega-3 which has a positive effect on skin and hair.
Olive oil is rich in antioxidants, as well as vitamins A and E, which protect the keratin in hair and help to lock in moisture.

 

 

 

**Disclaimer - I am not a cosmetologist, scientist or chemist. I am a woman/mother who has done her own research to discover what works for our hair. This is what I have found that works best for myself as well as my daughters hair. I did not include measurements for the mixture because that should be decided based on the needs/length/thickness/thinness of your hair.


























































































































 

All About Ebates.com

Why I use it- How I use it -  Is it a scam


Why I use Ebates.com - It's a no brainer!! Why would I NOT want to earn cash back on purchases that I would be making anyway? Regardless if it's $1 cash back or $10 cash back on my purchase. It's money that is being given to me for really no reason at all. All because I shopped online through Ebates.com

How I use Ebates.com - I login to my Ebates.com account. I usually already have an idea of what I need or want to purchase and will just type the store name in the search bar at the top right of the page. There will be a percentage next to the store you select. That percentage is the amount of cash back you will receive based on the amount of your purchase. Ebates.com will direct you to that stores website while creating a tracking ticket. You select your items, make your purchase as normal. The tracking ticket is tracked through Ebates.com (like a receipt) It tells Ebates how much you spent.

Is it a Scam? No, sign up for free, pick a gift card of your choice worth $10 (this was the gift card amount when I joined) Your gift card will be sent in the mail. It took approx. 3 weeks before I received my gift card. I chose a $10 Target gift card.
Make a "qualifying purchase" of at least $25 to start earning your cash back. Make the purchase from any store of your choice as you usually would shopping online. Ebates currently has about 1,600 retailers.

Why am I sharing this info now?
I'm a skeptical person by nature so when someone tells me I can get paid to shop through Ebates.com I'm not taking them seriously. My thought process is "Why would someone pay ME to shop" After doing my own research for months (because I want to be sure) I decided to sign up to see for myself if it's true, if Ebates.com will pay me to shop through their website. It is free to sign up so I figured I didn't have anything to lose.

**I don't jump on band wagons and I'm not a scamming, get rich, pyramid scheme type of person and that is why I decided to wait to share this info with people other than family. I had to be certain it was not a scam.**

Let me make a few things clear:
Ebates.com WILL NOT make you rich
You WILL NOT be able to quit your job, sit home and make money. Ebates is not a job.
If you are NOT an online shopper this is NOT for you. BUT...
I will say since using Ebates.com I do a lot more shopping online just because it makes sense to me. You have to decide if that works for you.

In Store Pick-Up
Also please note that most stores offer in store pick up which is typically what I like to do. If you don't want to deal with waiting on your items to be shipped or shipping cost this is an awesome option.

How do I make sure that I am earning cash back? (info from Ebates.com)
Purchases you make at Ebates stores are only credited if you start your shopping session at Ebates.com or another Ebates service (like the Ebates toolbar) and click to a store via an Ebates link.

Why should you join? (info from Ebates.com)
Shop through Ebates, and earn up to 25% cash back at your favorite stores. How? Our stores pay us a fee when you shop. We then share the fee directly with you - it's just that simple.
Incredible deals don't end with cash back. We hunt down cut-rate coupons and exclusive offers plus amazing deals on hot products. Unlike any other savings site on the internet, you can layer the deals. Save big by using coupons and getting cash back at the same time! With deal layering, you really stack up the savings.
Best of all, we never charge a membership fee or require mail-in rebate forms. We just send you your cash, no strings attached.

To join Ebates.com click the link below
http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=tw4tzRaeTo4UnP1IBRjx3w%3D%3D

Can you make money through Ebates other than cash back on your purchases?
Why of course you can! Not much but it's possible.

If you use Ebates and decide that it's legit and you think your friends and family would benefit from using it, Ebates will give you a referral link that your friends and family can click. The referral link is linked to your Ebates account and tells Ebates that you referred this person. If your friend or family member joins and makes a $25 qualifying purchase you get $5....That's right folks FIVE DOLLARS!! LOL.

Again, Ebates is not a get rich quick scheme. It's simply a tool for savvy shoppers to get the best deals around. People like me who want the bang for their buck and people who are interested in saving money, earning money and most importantly people who like to SHOP!

If you are interested in trying Ebates. Click the link below and start earning your cash back.

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=tw4tzRaeTo4UnP1IBRjx3w%3D%3D

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave comments or concerns below. I will answer them to the best of my knowledge. You can also visit Ebates.com directly for more information.

**If you have any concerns or issues with me receiving $5 by signing up through my referral link please just go directly to Ebates.com and sign up.**

Lipstick: My top picks for fall

Fall Faves...Lipstick (Pt. 2)

You can really never have enough lipstick. At least that's what I tell myself. Sure I already have a few lippies perfect for fall but how can you say no to these beauties pictured below. From drug store finds to high end brands you are sure to find something to achieve the perfect pout!

Swatches from left to right:

Lime Crime Velvetines Red Velvet www.limecrime.com
This color is absolutely amazing. It goes on as a gloss/paint but dries as a matte. This will definitely be a go to for the Holiday season!

Kate by Rimmel London 01
This color seemed to photograph a little brighter than it actually is once applied. In true color I believe it to be a more brick color red with burnt orange undertones. Either way it is a beautiful color. I wore this over the weekend and I did experience a small amount of bleeding. That can easily be cured by using a lip liner.

Wet n Wild (Fergie Collection) Ferguson Crest Cabernet
I wore this color today and needless to say I love it. And the price...YES!! I applied the lipstick on the heavier side to achieve a gorgeous vampy purple-ish wine color. I will be getting lots of wear out of this. The lipstick is very creamy and moisturizing. Applied easily.

NARS Train Bleu Velvet Matte Lip Pencil www.narscosmetics.com
NARS is and always will be my favorite make-up brand. With that being said it was only right that I picked up Train Bleu. This color is intense, dark, vampy and perfect for fall/winter. I would describe Train Bleu as a rich dark plumy burgundy purple with a very barely there brown undertone. It's really a stunning color in person.

NARS Cinematic Lipstick in the color Full Frontal (Guy Bourdin Collection) www.narscosmetics.com
I was very excited for the Guy Bourdin release. I'm not really into eye shadow so I figured I would just pick up one of the lipsticks from the collection. I decided on Full Frontal. These lipsticks are very easy to apply, creamy and moisture enriched. The color is a pretty deep lavender but definitely not a plum or burgundy. I have not worn this color yet but will most likely apply a heavier coat to achieve a more opaque/dark finish.

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in the color Shameless
Can I just say that I searched high and low for this color for WEEKS and just found it yesterday! I snagged the last one in the display at my local Walgreens. My searching was well worth the wait. I LOVE this color! After seeing countless reviews and swatches on various social networks I already knew the color payoff was amazing. I will be purchasing a back up as soon as I can find it again. I have heard it closely compares to MACs Heroine which is limited edition and not available for purchase at this time. I do not own Heroine therefore I surely was not going to miss the boat on this one. It is a matte finish but not a drying matte hence the Balm reference. It has it's fair share of moisture and applies easily.

MAC Rebel www.maccosmetics.com
Rebel is definitely a cult favorite for fall. A gorgeous smooth satin finish along with the boldness of a perfect plum/burgundy screams fall. I think Rebel is an all around favorite. It's not too dark, it's flattering to all skin tones and the finish allows for light coverage or it can be buildable to a more opaque finish. Can't go wrong with this one ladies!

MAC Flat Out Fabulous www.maccosmetics.com
Let's just say I'm FLAT OUT happy that I finally received it. This color was apart of the insanely popular  Retro Matte collection. To say mattes are popular this season an understatement. Mattes are literally on fire this season. I called and visited a few MAC stores in my area to no avail. Finally (so I thought) Nordstrom found it for me and had it scheduled to ship.  A week later my order was cancelled. Reason being "the lipstick sold out before the order could be processed" Again, my search started which eventually lead me back to Nordstrom where it was still sold out but they were offering a "pay now ship at a later date type of situation" I took a chance and received my order in the next 1.5 to 2 weeks. Now that I have it I have to admit it was worth the wait. I did however think the color was lighter than it appeared in the Retro Matte ads. All in all it's a great matte fuchsia color. Not bright flamingo fuchsia. For me this color is appropriate for fall because of the finish. It can however be worn in the spring/summer as well.

 

Natural Hairstyles for Kids

During the week we don't usually have time for daily hair combing. This is a super simple style that will last all week. I typically do not use rubber bands but I did not have enough goody elastic bands to complete this style. I dipped the rubber bands in olive oil before putting them on her hair. An easy alternative to using rubber bands would be to start out with a braid at the root for about an inch then start your two strand twist.
As usual I used Bee Mine Luscious Moisturizer, Bee Mine Curly Butter and Curls Passion Fruit Control Paste to achieve this style. At night, a satin bonnet was used along with her satin pillow case. For a little fun, the parts were all oddly shaped.