Obama, Anyone?

I am absolutely elated to see this. Homeware designer Lana Kole created this wall decal for the true believers out there. I’ve got my share of pins, posters and shirts, but I must, must add this to my collection. Best part, it’s only $25! I am in the middle of re-decorating my room, and since I don’t want the drama of wallpaper, I’ll take the ease of wall decals. Check out the rest of what Lana Kole has to offer at lanakole.com!

Filed under: Introducing..., Off Topic, Your Beauty Space

Bath And Body Works Shea Cashmere

This stuff is the truth. Long gone are the days when I used to wear Sun-Ripened Raspberry and Warm Vanilla Sugar. Do you ever smell something, or do something, or hear a song or see a movie that takes you back to the past? Those two take me back to middle school and high school, and I’m NOT trying to re-live that! Shea Cashmere makes me want to grow up, and delve into the life of a luxury and sophistication! I have the bubble bath & foot cream, and while I’m not too much of a bath taker, I’m all about showers! So, I went back to Bath and Body Works to get the body wash, body cream and hand cream.

The lovelies at Bath and Body Works have given us some insight on how to have a luxorious day with Shea Cashmere products!

The Shea Cashmere Collection from True Blue Spa is the quick and inexpensive way to pamper yourself from top to bottom with the richness of Shea Butter and the luxurious softness of Cashmere.

· Start the day by lathering up with the Shea Cashmere Shower Cream( $15)
· Nourish your skin with either the Shea Cashmere Body Cream ($17.50) or the Shea Cashmere Body Lotion ($16.50)
· Pamper your precious feet with the Shea Cashmere Foot Cream ($15)
· Keep your hands moisturized and soft with the Shea Cashmere Hand Cream ($14.50)
· End your day with a relaxing bath using the Shea Cashmere Bubble Bath ($18)

A day of pampering wouldn’t be complete without the oh-so-soft knit Cashmere Ballerina Slippers ($29) and the decadent Cashmere Robe ($49.50) to wrap yourself in and unwind! The entire Cashmere Collection is available in Bath & Body Works stores as well as bathandbodyworks.com. I wanted to jump into these at the store! I’ve got to get these for my mommy! She’d adore them!!!

By the way, I cannot wait to try Vanilla Noir, the new fragrance debuting December 1st! I’m a freak for Vanilla Scented Products!!!!

Filed under: Bath and Body Works, Introducing..., Luxe

Beauty for the home!

My grandmother just moved into a plush new apartment, and it’s to die for. She is retired, single and loving life, so she decided to make her new place her own little paradise. It was my duty as a loving grandchild and future Harlem co-op owner to invest in a few beauty-ful things for the snazzy place. Here’s what I got her!

Madie loves candles just as much as I do. I decided to get her a candle that looked and smelled amazing. Thus, the best choice for this was Tocca! The scents are very rich and inviting, plus they make the most rundown place smell eloquent. She loves “Stella”, that boasts the smell of Blood Orange. They also have other scents like Grapefruit Cucumber, Sweet Milk, Watermelon and Guava Red Currant. Mmmm, I simply adore Tocca.

For her bathroom sink, I got her the Mandarin Coriander Sink Set with caddy. Maybe this is kind of tacky, but she smelled it in our powder room at home and always commented on it. The set leaves your skin feeling and smelling amazing. I remember looking at the name of the scent and thought, wtf? That probably stinks! But it was a beautiful scent, and I’m sure it will stay replenished in our bathroom for months to come!

As a matter of fact, we have Thymes all over the house. My mommy uses the Wild Ginger Body Wash and I can smell it beaming off of her in the morning. The next thing I really want to try is the Honey Melon candle, doesn’t that just smell scrumptious??

Filed under: Introducing..., Luxe, Scandalous Home, Your Beauty Space

Exclusive…Kissable Couture!!

When I found out that AJ Crimson and Keisha Whitaker( yup, Forest’s wife) were creating a line of luxury lip gloss, I had to try them. Here’s a bit of a background. AJ has done makeup for Amarie, Keyshia Cole, Mya, Missy, and a plenty of other A-list stars. You’ve seen his work and lusted over it on numerous print articles, red carpet events and television appearances.

Here’s what the geniuses at Kissable Couture had to say…

Dress your lips in the everything posh First Kiss Collection. Take a front row seat to feeling the easy glide smooth application that invokes a sense of bliss & comfort. The kind of comfort felt after the closeness of your First Kiss. Each experience with the Kissable Couture First Kiss Collection offers the ultimate high gloss factor that is stand alone satisfying. Eternally beneficial from start to finish, it seemingly just never comes to an end. Its infectious ability to keep you coming back for a single sheer application or double coat of sexy sheen & divine fluidity provides the ultimate look of effortless chic. As lightweight as the flutter felt in your heart, the First Kiss won’t weigh down your lips; rather provide an endearing feeling of everlasting love. The velveteen wand applicator glides on a sensual passionate feeling of luxurious beauty at its best. The First Kiss, an ultimate timeless experience never to be forgotten.Here are the swatches in the order listed below, left to right. I couldn’t find “Johnny” anywhere, it’s probably hiding in one of my bags. The bottom row has one swipes of gloss for a sheer finish, while the top row has three swipes, to show just how buildable this gloss is!

DYLAN- a light peach shimmer

CHRIS –an elegant nude

ERIC- a glimmering golden peach

DAVID- a sun-kissed bronze

FOREST- a rich burgundy wine shimmer

TYLER- a deep purple shimmer

JOHNNY- a bright pink shimmer

Here’s my take. First off, the glosses come in a glossy black gift box wrapped in ribbon. So Luxe. I let “Dylan” kiss me first. He was soft, peachy and just cute. The next day, at brunch with the girls, I kissed “Eric”. So pretty, like keep-checking-out-my-chic-pout-in-the-mirror pretty. While I interviewed AJ and Keisha, I wore “Tyler” over a rich red lipstick. And believe me, I was turning heads! The color in the tube is striking, you know they are a hit! The first swipe of color is sheer, and the more color you apply, the more color appears. I love, love, love these glosses, and at least 3 colors stay in my makeup bag at all times!

I had the opportunity to interview AJ and Keisha, while eating lunch at a cute cafe in Baltimore. We did a conference call, AJ was in the lovely New York City, while Keisha was in the ever fabulous Los Angeles. First off, let me say, these two individuals were so humble and so faithful to their product. That was a definite plus for me! I asked AJ what the inspiration for the line was, and the thought was simple: mirroring fashion and cosmetics together, which is not normally seen. It was just time for lip gloss to grow up! Since I love all the glosses, I want more, clearly. So, there will be new colors debuting for Valentine’s Day, as well as a few for Spring 2008. I’ll be on it.

So, I proposed the classic question, which colors look the best on which complexions. Basically, any person of any race or age can wear these colors. Keisha loves to mix the glosses, which is an excellent idea. Get creative! Mix one swipe of “Chris” and four swipes of “David” for a warm neutral. For a bit of color, mix equal swipes of “Forest” and “Tyler”. Wear them with your favorite lip liners, over lipstick or alone. Lastly, I had to know where these names came from. It’s definitely a cute concept, no? Well, we know that Keisha married Forest, obviously! But, Keisha tells us, some of the names are guys she has kissed…and has not kissed!!!

Check out Kissable Couture at www.kissablecouture.com! If you happen to be in New York City, try the glosses on at Henri Bendel or in Los Angeles at Apothia by Fred Segal!

Filed under: Exclusive, Introducing..., Kissable Couture, Lip Gloss, Luxe

Exclusive: Rx for Brown Skin

I came across Dr. Susan Taylor’s RX for Brown Skin at Sephora this summer. I looked at is briefly, and decided to research it later. This is such an awesome concept, and I think that we could all benefit from it!! She’s created three seperate sets, which are all listed below. I had the chance to interview Dr. Taylor, and this is what she had to say!

1. What is the advantage to using products created for brown skin?

Products created specifically for brown skin are able to meet the unique needs of that particular type of skin. For example, I created Dr. Susan Taylor’s Rx for Brown Skin to not only maintain healthy brown skin but also to prevent and treat concerns unique to brown skin. Brown skin is often easily irritated and when that occurs, uneven skin tone, dark marks and discoloration may result. I formulated Rx for Brown Skin to not only avoid irritation (all of my cleansers, toners, moisturizers and serums) are fragrance-free, lanolin-free, alcohol-free, propylene glycol-free and dye-free. Additionally, they contain Bright Skin Complex, a unique blend of hyaluronic acid (for hydration), soy (that can help with pigmentation), and pomegranate (that can help with inflammation). The Bright & Healthy regimen is designed for normal to dry, sensitive and irritated brown skin. The Bright & Even regimen contains glycolic acid and the enzyme papain to gently exfoliate and help with discolorations. Finally, the Bright & Clear regimen contains salicylic acid (as opposed to the harsher benzoyl peroxide) to address the needs of acne prone and oily brown skin.

2. Do you have any suggestions on clearing stretch marks?

We all hate stretch marks and they are exasperating to treat. If the stretch marks are red then tretinoin (Retin A) can help somewhat. For silvery stretch marks, some doctors are getting modest improvement with various lasers.

3. What are the differences between your three types of skin care?

The Bright & Healthy regimen consists of: Bright & Healthy Ultra Gentle Cleanser, Bright & Healthy Ultra Gentle Toner (witch hazel based) and Bright & Healthy Ultra Gentle Moisturizer. Bright and Healthy is designed for normal to dry, sensitive and irritated brown skin.

The Bright & Even regimen contains glycolic acid and the enzyme papain to gently exfoliate and help with discolorations, uneven skin tone as well as mature skin .

Finally, the Bright & Clear regimen contains salicylic acid (as opposed to the harsher benzoyl peroxide) to address the needs of acne prone and oily brown skin.

4. What are the signs of needing to see a dermatologist?

If a skin problem persists despite using over the counter products, then it is time to see a dermatologist. Also, if a mole changes in size, shape or color or if a new growth appears, then you should see a dermatologist.

5. Can you use these products with other prescribed medication?

Yes, but it is still important to ask your doctor if you should use the products along with your medication. Your doctor should have the final say.

Filed under: Introducing..., Skincare