"VioLent LipS" anyone?

Check out Jessie J in black!

   I bet you all are wondering what "Violent Lips" are.  It's a brand of temporary lip tattoos, think of it as minx nails for the lips instead.  Everyone in the celebrity world from Kim Kardashian to Keyshia Cole are rocking this look that has been popular in their circle for a year now.  Prices run from $9.99 t0 $14.95 Check it out:)

You can checkout the gallery right here: http://www.violentlips.com/

Check out the checkered look on Kim K. 

http://www.violentlips.com/

Pink cheetah print http://www.violentlips.com/

Here is a tutorial on how to apply "VIOLENT LIP" tattoos. Enjoy:)

Hair & makeUp tRendZ winter 2011/2012

Modern Pin-Up girl makeup & hair done by ME (Raina)*
cat eye-lined eyes & GOTHIC purple lipstick 

  This season always brings the most eye-popping trends in clothing, and hair and makeup are it's accessories.  This post is all things hair and makeup looks that I just love and that you should try.  Don't be afraid to be daring or different.  Hair trends range from deep side & center parts to bangs and makeup from bold lips and liquid-lined cat eyes! Take a look:)

smokey eye & Pale lip

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smashbox.com%2F&h=LAQFmRUTb

The fishtail braid is here & is not going anywhere

Pixie cut a la "Rosemary's Baby"
this cut was made popular by Mia Farrow

Top picture: RED LIPhttp://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.narscosmetics.com%2F&h=vAQGVhWKX
Bottom Picture:big bangs
Hair: Raina (me)
Makeup: Waverly
Pale pink lip
feather earrings created by me RAINA http://www.wix.com/lynreekaw/the-glamour-box

faLL/wiNter TreNdz 2011-2012

Military-styled jacket, grey skinny jeans, boots
http://www.forever21.com

   The fall/winter is here and this may surprise some but this is actually my favorite time of the year.  I absolutely LOVE the clothes and shoes around this time.... nothing beats a pair of edgy boots or a nice classic or trendy coat.  Here are a few of my picks that I absolutely love...

I purchased these boots at Forever21 for $32.80 Ladies you can pair these with some skinny rocker jeans
and ROCK OUT!!

ADROGYNY in Fall/Winter 2011 fashion
from shoes to hats and dress shirts.

Long grey HAREMS.  I purchased these in NYC at one of
those carts in the middle of Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream,NY
$20.00
PinkCandy colored faux suede shoes from CHARLOTTE RUSSE $24
http://www.charlotterusse.com
Cropped striped shirt at a local boutique.

the suede boot NEVER goes out of style.
http://www.charlotterusse.com

Leopard print platform bootie
http://www.dillards.com
http://www.charlotterusse.com

 NEWEST TREND ALERT!!!:  Color blocking
http://www.charlotterusse.com

FaLL & WiNter HaiR caRe

      The cold weather is here and that means it is time to take extra care of our hair.  Just as the leave on the trees dry out and fall to the ground so can our hair if we do not take the extra precaution to preserve our  strands.  Meaning our hair requires more replenishing during this time of the year and the right products are needed to ensure that.  HERE ARE A COUPLE OF MY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAING HEALTHY HAIR DURING THE FALL/WINTER MONTHS! (curly/coarse, straight/fine, medium textured/wavy hair, etc)*

Winter Hair Care Tips
1)Wear a scarf, hat or cap to protect your hair from the cold and wind. Make sure that it's not so tight where it will restrict circulation in your scalp.

2)Use a conditioner daily.
(especially on curly/coarse hair)*

3)Once you have your hair moist, lock in the moisture by running your hair through cold water; this will also give your hair an extra shine. (ALWAYS RINSE YOUR CONDITIONER WITH COOL WATER EVEN DURING THE OTHER SEASONS)*

4)Don't go outside with your hair wet, you risk breakage. Your hair will freeze if it's cold enough outside and may break.

5)Limit your use of "hot" items on your hair such as a blow dryers and curling irons. (use protective serums such as CHI Iron Guard which can be purchased at JCPenny Hair salons/ BioSilk)*

6)If you need to use a "hot" item use a leave in conditioner before using the item on your hair.

7)Avoid taking hot showers or washing your hair in hot water. Use warm or cool water instead, the heat can dry out and/or damage your hair and skin.

DO NOT BUY CHEAP PRODUCTS & EXPECT SALON RESULTS!!***

        HERE IS A NATURAL FALL/WINTER HAIRCARE TIP THAT CAN ALSO BE USED ON THE SKIN          

AVOCADO is often called the "ultimate beauty fruit." It delivers nourishing natural oils and adds other benefits.  The vitamin A in avocado adds sheen to hair,vitamin B balances oil production, whether your skin and hair are too oil or dry, and vitamin E protects and repairs sun and pollution damage.  You can simply mash up one or two avocados into a mud and apply to hair or skin. AVOCADO CAN BE USED AS A DEEP CONDITIONER.  EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR OUR SKIN/HAIR/BODIES CAN ABUNDANTLY BE FOUND IN NATURE!

FaLL / WiNter Nail color tRendZ

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      Fall, my favorite season is rapidly approaching. And along with it brings beautiful colors of nature. This season the nail color trends are not your average fall colors.  Some of the colors revamped spring/summer shades with a twist of metallic in it, and is simply captivating.  From NARS to OPI and cheaper drug store brands such as Sinful Colors, have an array of greens to grays to choose from.

Graphite/Peridot & Quartz
www.amazon.com

Chic Chocolate $23
www.amazon.com

Essie's "Glamour Purse"
can be purchased at Target

Essie's  "little brown dress"
can be purchased at Target

essies's CLUTCH
can be purchased at Target

Sinful Colors "happy ending"
can be purchased at your local CVS/Target for $1.99

The Hottest Trend: HaREmS

    Trends come and trends go.  Some you love and some you can't wait till they leave.  For me HAREMS should be an essential part of any FaShioNiStas wardrobe.  They really make a statement and shows that you're not afraid to DARE 2 BE DIFFERENT. Harem pants originated in India, and are a cross between a skirt and a pair of skinny jeans.  Some people refer to harems as "MC HAMMER" pants because with his help they reemerged on the scene in a modernized version.  The traditional harem is actually cut from more material and is accompanied by a little skirt at the top. It is traditionally used by belly dancers. They go by other names such as PANTALOONS AND ALADDIN PANTS. CHECK THEM OUT....


                                  DRESS DOWNED HAREMS:

I purchased my Harems from STRAWBERRY'S in Valley Stream, New York
they were $14.99 & the NYC shirt was $10
Pair it with some wedges, platform stilettos or grecian flats & you are good to go.

                          DRESSED UP HAREMS:

Same HAREMS w/a dressier look
top: Strawberry's $15.99


There are a variety of harems, from long to short.  Choose which ones best suit YOU.
Check your local mall to purchase HAREMS

Skin CArE: The BrowN Solution....

   Darker skin tones, especially those of African descent are considered to be more oily and prone to scarring and hyper-pigmentation from blemishes.  There are so many products to choose from but to know what's best for darker skin is key.  I'll give you a few basic products that you can purchase at drug stores and at high end stores like Sephora.  The key to our skin's health as with anything else is diet.  A variety of fruits and vegetables are abundant in nature for the purpose of maintaining healthy internal organs as well as the largest organ of them all, OUR SKIN.  So, let's start with diet first.

Skin diet do's

• apricots, carrots,
• fish (instead of red meat)
• bluberries, nuts, leafy vegetables  
• DRINK AT LEAST 64 OUNCES OF WATER A DAY

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-skin/AN01863    


SKIN PRODUCTS FOR BROWN SKIN  

• Black Opal- purchase at drug stores
• Rx for Brown Skin- purchase at www.rxforbrownskin.com/
• Ambi-purchase at drug stores/ beauty supply stores/WalMart
• L'Occitane en Provence-purchase at Sephora or usa.loccitane.com/FO/shea-butter.htm
• Carol's Daughter-purchase at Sephora or www.carolsdaughter.com

Remember with all skincare products it may take 2 or more weeks to show full results, after all it did not take 1 day for a skin problem to arise. Do not pick at your acne you will push the bacteria further into your skin and make it worst.  Scarring will also occur.  Here is a video by "Rx for Brown skin" which will explain what you need to know about brown skin and who is considered to be brown-skinned.

TrAde SecRets: Learn How to Use a Flat Iron

      You ever wonder how to get that salon look AWAY from the salon and in between visits with your hairstylist?  Well let me let you in on a few tricks....I mean a few TRADE SECRETS.  It's all in the products and using professional tools.  Some of my favorite tools are the Chi iron and Chi blow dryer and my favorite smoothing products are also created by Chi and Biosilk which are both Farouk products.  Here are a few videos to show you how to properly use some of my favorite SECRETS OF THE TRADE. Learn how to properly use a flatiron to straighten and even curl your hair.

Introducing the Chi iron accompanied by CHI iron guard thermal spray. Use as directed.

A GUIDE ON HOW TO PROPERLY USE A FLATIRON. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION.

I use this technique in the salon. YES YOU CAN CURL YOUR HAIR WITH A FLATIRON.

YES!!!!!! My 3 favorite products & tools 4 straightening the hair.
CHI blowdryer, CHI Silk Infusion (used on wet n dry hair to protect
your tresses during the flatiron process and to keep fly aways tamed) and the
 CHI flatiron which in my opinion is in a class all by itself.
www.chishairstraightener.com
www.farouk.com
and all JC Penny hair salons

CHI Ironguard can be used on each section of hair before you
flatiron.
www.farouk.com and sold at JC Penny salons

  CHI has a wide range of products which I fully endorse, from the shampoos to the color products and beyond. Don't forget to visit the sites and start taking advantage of all CHI has to offer.

The IMPERFECTLY PERFECT 'FRO

  When you think of the afro you think about the emergence of black pride in the 1960's & 1970's, with it's roots in the Civil rights movement with such figures as Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Stokely Carmichael and Angela Davis.   The AFRO is a symbol of being aware of black racial identity.... ("SAY IT LOUD, I'M BLACK & I'M PROUD")*  yesterday and even today with it being seen now as a BOLD FASHION STATEMENT.  The 'fro of today is "IMPERFECTLY PERFECT." It's not combed out into a perfect round silhouette.  It's textured, asymmetrical, free & UNTAMED!

You've got to LOVE Solange Knowles....
in fact she's my favorite Knowles sistah! (shhh don't tell Bey)*
she wears this Imperfectly Perfect Fro well.

Here is a collage of beautiful UNTAMED fros worn
by Foxy Brown herself, PAM GRIER.  Do you see how the Afro has emerged into
being carefree and even more fearless? 

Here are some videos that I absolutely adore on the fro and different ways to wear it. Enjoy....

The 80's style afro side ponytail

Here is another way to achieve this style:

Tty a two strand twist out look...

This is me with my hair shorter.  I used Jamaican Lime extra hold (my hair is curly/straight textured so it's resistant to some styles) and twisted my hair while it was wet.  Then, I left it in for a couple of days and took the twist down.  The older this style gets the better & BIGGER  the fro gets which I absolutely adore.  The messier the better. There is a preview of products that I use on natural hair in the June section of this blog.

Me again with my fro partially highlighted.

Remember to never color your hair yourself unless you are a professional licensed cosmetologist like myself.  If you don't have curls like this and do not want to experiment with color on your natural locks you can always opt for extensions.....try a twist set on rods using your favorite product. Remember

to keep your ends trimmed so you can have a healthy looking head of hair.

What I use to keep my fro moisturized....
and ......

I use this every other day to keep my curls defined and most importantly MOISTURIZED.
This and all SHEA MOISTURE products are sold exclusively at TARGET . It is light weigh and I love it.

me with my hair pushed away from my face using SCUNCCI  hair bands.....I have to use 3.  You can purchase them at CVS or any local drug store and beauty supply store.

Scalp solutions:::: HeaLthy SCaLp =HeaLthy hAiR

    When wearing that perfect BLACK DRESS the last time a Glamazon wants to worry about is the possibility that her scalp will leave a trail of snow flurries on her collar.  So I'm here to address a common problem known simply as DANDRUFF or medically known as Seborrheic dermatitis.  Seborrheic dermatitis is thought to be due to a combination of an over production of skin oil and irritation from a yeast called malessizia.  Stress, fatigue, genetics, infrequent shampooing of scalp, weather extremes and immune deficiency diseases are known to be at the root of the problem. HEALTHY SCALP= HEALTHY HAIR
It is very important to tackle this issue because if you do not it can lead to PERMANENT HAIR LOSS!

TO DO LIST FOR TREATING DANDRUFF 

1. If you have severe dandruff visit a dermatologist
2. Shampoo hair with a dandruff shampoo every time you shampoo your hair, make sure to follow it with a moisturizing shampoo.  (dandruff shampoos treat the scalp but tend to dry out the hair)* DO NOT SHAMPOO YOUR HAIR USING HOT WATER, LUKEWARM WATER ONLY. (hot water will dry your scalp and hair)*
3. Try some naturopathic remedies such as:  ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR RINSE & PURE TEA TREE OIL.   
4. TRy using SULFATE-FREE shampoos, they don't give you that heavy lather and will not dry out your scalp or hair.           
5. Get someone to massage that scalp (or do it yourself) Scalp manipulation helps to get the blood circulating and helps to regulate cell turnover which is a factor in dandruff production.            
6. MOST IMPORTANTLY: DRINK WATER!!! DRINK WATER!!! again, DRINK WATER!!! I can't stress that enough!                                                                                           

Here are a few recommendations:

BRAGG organic Apple Cider vinegar can be
found at health stores and at GNC www.gnc.com

Mizani Scalp Care Shampoo can be
purchased at JcPenny Salons and
other fine salons



                      

Pure Tea Tree oil that
can be used directly on the scalp

MIZANI Comfiderm
purchase at JcPenny salons

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo www.paulmitchell.com
and at JcPenny hair salons

Summer Skin Care Favorite of the WEEK

   Summer is here and for some of us skin problems arise.  In order to get that flawless look when applying your favorite makeup brand you must first start with a healthy canvas. There are  variety of products on the market that I adore.  Here is my favorite for the week.  Let's begin our journey to camera ready even toned beautiful skin.

I have personally used Clinique and I fully endorse it.  Remember quality products are NECESSARY to produce the results you DESIRE! The key to using Clinique is when you are applying the clarifying lotion there is NO need to rub it on abrasively, the product does the exfoliating for you.  So remember to be gentle.

3-step system: Formulas  for 4 different skin types
www.clinique.com

AcceSsoRies GaLore: The 2011 BOW & FLOWER edition

     An accessory is an essential part of any fashionista's wardrobe.  I describe it as WEARABLE ART!  It can turn an ordinary outfit into extraordinary.  Here are some trendz that are sure to catch your eye.

BOW-SHAPED trendy handbag
http://www.handbag-trends.com

My favorite accessory of the season.
THE BOW TIE BELT
this one is from Marc Jacobs. You can find affordable ones at
http://www.charlotterusse.com
http://www.wetseal.com

My girl Adrianne Munroe CEO of Pink Velvet Designs.  
Her jewelry has been worn by FREE, former host of 106& Parkwww.pinkvelvet.storenvy.com.

My favorite trendsetter BAJAN BEAUTY Rihanna
http://www.forever21.com
http://www.claires.com
http://www.charlotterusse.com

http://www.forever21.com

Marc Jacobs spring/summer 2011 hair accessory

http://www.shopstyle.com/browse/earrings/Fred-flare