pict pict pict: July 2009

What to Go See This Weekend at the Movies

This weekend brings one must-see movie, Funny People. The latest flick from Judd Apatow (The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up) takes a turn for the darker and dramatic. Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, and Leslie Mann star in the bittersweet dramedy about a famous comedian who is diagnosed with cancer. He's forced to reevaluate his world. He becomes the mentor to a young, amateur comedian, and, in turn, learns a lot about life.

Review: L'oreal True Match Super-Blendable Makeup

NAME: L'oreal True Match Super-Blendable Makeup

DESCRIPTION: L'oreal claims this foundation "precisely matches your skin's tone and texture" and is formulated with Precise Match Technology for easier control of coverage. It contains no oils, fragances and does not clog pores. It has moisturizing agents like glycerin and vitamins B and E. Non-Acnegenic. 24 shades available in the US and Puerto Rico.
PRICE: USD $10-$11 at most drugstores and department stores like Walmart and Kmart.

SHADE I BOUGHT: N4 Buff Beige
SO?: This review was long overdue. This and the EL Double Wear Foundation review. o__O

Anyway...

First of all, I think this is the best color match I've had in a foundation. I used the little plastic chart they have at the L'oreal display (so you can find your "perfect" shade), placed it over my jaw and I saw N4--buff beige was my "match". I thought "Neutral?" But I wasn't surprised, I'm way lighter and more "pink" on the back side of my arms and my "private parts" =D . It was USD $6 at Walmart (quite a steal) so I decided to try it out.

As you may already know, once you've found your perfect shade, L'oreal has made it easier to identify what concealer, blush, powder, etc. you could use with their ID system. In my case, I would look for products marked for N4 shades.

N4 Buff Beige shade has more yellow than pink. But one thing I've learned is that the meaning of neutral differs between makeup companies.

**For reference, I have used MAC foundations in NC 35-40.

I was surprised at how much I love the color. And yes, this foundation is really blendable. You can work with it as it does not dries up quickly (compared to Revlon's ColorStay Makeup). I love the soft dewy finish it gives to my skin. Light to medium coverage. Too much and it could look cakey. I like to apply this with my hands and fingers first (to help it adhere better to my skin) then go over certain areas like my cheeks with a stippling brush to get more coverage. It has SPF of 17, which is pretty high for a foundation. It contains Titanium Dioxide and Iron Oxide, both physical sunscreens.

Also, I love that it does not have a fragrance and my face doesn't itch like crazy when I sweat.

BUT ---and here comes the part that makes me sad--- this foundation makes my T-zone go all wild and crazy. It doesn't help to control oil in this area and the result is that after 1-2 hrs the foundation is ready to be transferred everywhere. It doesn't matter if I set it with powder. I once sneezed, covered my mouth and nose and the makeup was out of my face and all over my fingers, ugh! =( I guess I'm accustomed to my Colorstay, it really stays in place. Maybe ladies with Dry/Very Dry skin would love True Match.

Oh, if I know I'm gonna be photographed when using this foundation, I do not use a loose powder that is "shimmery" or provide "glowy skin" because my face will be all white and ghostly in the pic.

So... this foundation has gone to my pile of "just use for a couple of hours" foundations --or was it the "going to pick up the kids" foundations...can't remember. LOL. It really looks nice on the skin.

(The foundation looks lighter in my hands,

which are darker than my face)

RATING: 3/5 (for color match, great selection of colors and wonderful texture but L'oreal need to make this transfer-resistant!)

**TIP: If I am going out at night, I use a foundation that is a shade darker (not much, but normally a color I wouldn't use during the day). I'm not that big on bronzers and with the darker foundation I cover all imperfections while knowing that my face is gonna look even-toned with my neck in all the photos. I have had great results by doing this.

HTH. Later wonderful people!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

It's OFFICIALLY* going down.

So the 2nd MOST OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY is rolling around, mine of course (August 29th) :) and like any other Most Official's birthday, you know the goal is to do it big.

To get straight to the point ; August 28th, Diff'rent World ENT. presents
"Ralph Lauren Was Borin' Before I Wore 'EM!" . .

& you know we're not your usual party goers, you cant find us in every RAM event, other words you know when we promote it the turn out is BIG! Why not bring in my birthday & end the summer right?

It's the OFFICIAL 21ST BIRTHDAY BASH FOR KING BUBBA (& SADDITY)! also Diff'rent World celebrating there two year anniversary.

@CLUB AMAZURA! 144TH PL AND JAMAICA, NY
MUSIC BY: DJ MAGIC AKA DA GIFT, THE SHUT DOWN BROTHERS, DJ ERNIE B & DJ CHRIS CASH OF DIFF'RENT WORLD ENT, DJ BOOGZ

LOTS OF SECURITY SO COME OUT AND HAVE FUN WITH THE GOOD GUYS OF DIFF'RENT WORLD ENT!!

for ticketss hit up:
FLII4AWHITEGUYY - AIM
http://www.twitter.com/king_BUBBA - TWITTER

What's your wardrobe without ACCESORIES?

Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami Plush Toys

One of the most selling leather goods of LV has dropped a new collection.(to school you kids)Taskashi Murakami,one of the most thoughtful and thought-provoking Japanese artists of the 1990s. His work ranges from cartoony paintings to quasi-minimalist sculptures.

Hellz x Mosley Tribes Sunglasses

One of the most well respected female streetwear brands, Hellz took it to the next level towards eyewear specialists Mosley Tribes for a new set of sunglasses, set to release November 2009. The shades will be featured in two custom colorways, including a Tortoise/Jade Green with brown gradient lenses and Black/Red with Grey gradient lenses. Both will retail for $250 at limited stores only meaning only 100-200 pairs will be issued

COMME des GARCONS Polka Dot & Debossed Dot Wallet Collection

The wallets feature both a polka dot and a debossed dot pattern with a number of different sizes and executions. Colors include black, white and red

Shoutout's to Kani for the idea!! FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @Flyestoncampus!

Attack of the Killer Perfume!

This news story is currently making its way around the Interwebs:

FORT WORTH, Texas - At first, fire officials suspected that carbon monoxide or some other toxic fumes had sickened almost 150 people at a Texas bank call center.

It turned out that perfume was to blame.

MedStar ambulance spokeswoman Lara Kohl says 34 people were taken to hospitals, 12 by ambulance, after reporting dizziness and shortness of breath Wednesday at a Bank of America call center in Fort Worth. Medics treated 110 at the scene.

Fort Worth fire Lt. Kent Worley says the incident started with two people complaining about dizziness after a co-worker sprayed perfume. Others reported being sick when an announcement was made that anyone with similar symptoms should exit the building.

Investigators do not know what type of perfume was sprayed.

Ok, so this brings up two thing:

I can't wait to know what perfume caused the problem
The perfume wearer should have read my tips for appropriate perfume usage...and you should read it too, unless you want to cause this sort of office mayhem!

TotalBeauty.com: Top 21 Body Washes

So here I'm thinking of taking a shower...again...and it isn't midday yet, ugh! So hot in here. I saw this beauty bubble and got curious. Right now I use a moisturizing one, but my skin has shown me it needs more exfoliation, so I got the St. Ives one. Let's see how that goes.

Top 21 Body Washes

See which shower gel was tops

All body washes will get you clean, but TotalBeauty.com readers expect much more when they step into the shower. They want a product that leaves skin clean, soft and smelling great, and will even put them in a better mood. Sound impossible? It's not. In fact they found 21 washes that do just that. Check them out.

See washes

YouTube: Some damn good smoky eyes tutorials!

You may already know I love smoky eyes. I have made some looks with different colors. Smoky eyes can be gorgeous and yet they can be quite simple to achieve. I love doing smoky looks with color, but I absolutely love the classic ones using black/brown shades.

One thing I do almost everyday is going through YouTube looking for great tutorials to keep learning more about them (and makeup in general), trying to get better each time you know! These are tutorials from some of my favorite YouTubers:

Also, check out these videos by TiffanyD: "Brown Smoky Eyes" and "Black/Gray Smokey Eyes" .

Well, this should keep you entertained for a few minutes, if you haven't watched them already, LOL. I love to see the techniques every single individual has to achieve this look.

Check out these and other fantastic YouTubers on their respective channels (don't forget about me!). These ladies (and guys too!) are your everyday people doing extraordinary work.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Beauty Product of the Week: Pulse Perfection

What is it? Pulse Perfection Define-a-Lash Mascara is Maybelline's "first vibrating mascara. Transforms your lashes to perfection.

Patent-pending elastomer brush vibrates 7,000 times per stroke
Provides clump-free definition, intense color, and shine
Waterproof; also available in washable formula
Builds lash volume, length, and adds curl
Buildable formula
Ideal for All Skin Types
Contact lens safe

Available at drugstores and big box stores for under $15. (I think I paid about $12.99 at Ulta.)

What did you think? Vibrating mascaras have been on the market for about a year now. They started out with the expensive brands like Lancome and now, like most trends, they're making their way down market--good news for all of us in the recession! I've been leery of the vibrating mascara trend because....well....the whole idea sort of scared me. Don't get me wrong: I firmly believe that every girl needs at least one good vibrator in her life, but a vibrating mascara? I was skeptical.

When I saw that Maybelline was one of the first drugstore brands to launch a vibrating mascara, I was curious. It's well known that I am a big fan of Maybelline mascara, so if any drugstore brand could get the high-end trend right, my money was on Maybelline.

I tried this baby out with low expectations. I thought I'd end up with clumps and bits of mascara flying all around the place. I was wrong...on some level.

This product goes on really easily, and the vibrations help make one coat of mascara look like several coats. In no time, my lashes were longer, exquisitely darker, and fuller looking. To hell with wiggling the wand back and forth at the base...the vibrating wand did all the work for me.

On the not-so-positive side, I did notice that I had some clumping with this product. I don't know if this is user error (maybe I have been applying too much?) or a problem with the mascara. If you want to use this product, you should have some skill in applying mascara and using a lash comb, because I promise you that you'll need to comb out a few clumps here and there.

The final verdict? If you've been wanting to try out the vibrating mascara trend but didn't want to fork over $30, try this product. I will give this warning: practice using the wand. The first time you use it, you may need to use a good lash comb to separate your lashes a bit. Overall, vibrating mascaras are an interesting novelty, but I am not entirely sold. There are so many good mascaras on the market that are more worthy of your money than this one, but it has been fun trying out the vibrating wand technology.

Fabolous Release Party

Yes another Fabolous blog post lol its his week so its okay. Fabolous had a really hectic day yesterday for the release of Loso's Way. First, around 1am was at his private release party in NYC then, around 9am he headed to Hot 97 for an interview ..in the meanwhile #Lososway became a trending topic by 11am! By 4:30pm Fab was at MTV suckerfree after, he was at 106 & Park performing two songs, a video premier , and a give away of LV backpack and copy of his album then, he went to Best Buy in the Bronx to sign copys of his album. FINALLY fab is getting ready for his public release party .. YAY @myfabolouslife

Fab's Stylist/fiance Emily.

Ryan Leslie who produce many song for the album

Nina Sky

MissKeriBaby

Julissa Bermudaz

Long time friend DJ Clue Def Jam!

Adrienne Bailon

Terrence and Rocsi

Guest Blogger Review: Olay Regenerist 14 Day Skin Intervention

And now for something completely different here on Kiss and Make-up, my first ever Guest Blogger review of a product.

Let's meet our guest blogger, shall we? Her name is Michelle and she's a Kiss and Make-up reader.

Michelle is 32 years old and peacefully lives in Poway, California with her 2 cats (Aoife and Fionn) and her horse Whisper (affectionately known as: Mu). Being a full time student and working full time results in having to come up with amusing and cheap ways to beautify herself. Usually combing through drugstores from Mitzuwa, Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, Sally Beauty and RiteAid. Testing new products on herself and seeing what happens. This has caused varied results between surprisingly chipper to completely unamused. No animals, except Michelle, have been tested on while using these products.

Welcome, Michelle! And now, on to the product review:

What is it? Olay Regenerist 14 Day Skin Intervention. Here is how Olay markets this product: Help reclaim the lifted look of your youth in just 14 days. 14 individual doses for an intensive intervention to your normal skincare routine. Includes 7 tubes of each phase plus 1 mask.

Looking reclaim the lifted look of your youth? Some women resort to drastic procedures like a face lift, but you don't have to go to a doctor to get a significantly lifted look. It's time for an intervention with New Olay Regenerist 14 Day Skin Intervention. While it won't give you the same results as a surgical face lift, you will experience a lifted look in just 14 days.

This concentrated formula with peptide-B3 complex penetrates and hydrates to significantly firm and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. In just 14 days you will experience a stronger skin structure as the intensely hydrating system improves skin's moisture barrier.

Renew your lifted look throughout the year with an intensive intervention every three months.

Phase 1
Days 1-7 of this intervention are specially formulated to ignite the cellular regeneration within skin's surface, infusing your skin with repairing moisture and an Olay peptide - B3 complex.

Phase 2
Days 8 -14 contain a high concentration of an Olay peptide - B3 complex. Wrinkles are filled with polishing micro-powders and hydrating moisture improves skin's structure as you experience a lifted look to your skin.

Price: $ 26.99

What did you think? I felt slimy.It was utterly gross. Like I had this synthetic oily spill on my face 12 hours after I washed it off. I did notice the skin around my eyes appeared to be plumper but there was no other evidence of firmer skin. I was chugging water like mad in 100 degree weather and I did get a shock of plumpness. But I don't think it was result of this product but the result of water weight from obsessive water drinking.

There was also a mask included. Basically after your done, use the mask to wrap everything up. It was white and brawny paper towel like. It had 2 slits for eyes, 1 for nose and mouth. The instructions said to put it on and lay down for 15 minutes and relax. I probably spent that 15 minutes alone try to adhere that thing to my face. I think they only had one type of nose structure in mind because, not that I have schnoz like Barbara Streisand, but I had to 'alter' the mask by separating nose piece in order to get the mask to lay flat on my skin. Once on I looked like Leonardo DiCaprio from 'The man in the iron mask' and I sat patiently for another 15 minutes while watching the TV. The instructions said no need to wash product off, to let the remaining product soak into skin. Skin was not fresh, tight or pink. It was gooped down and oily. When I scrubbed the remaining product off with a facial scrub, I had noticed a softer smoother side to my skin.But you really had to scrub to see what the product was doing underneath. I would recommend that if you really want to try this product and have skin that is under the age of 35 go every other night, not ever night to decrease insane product overload.

The final verdict? Save your money! I was not impressed. I saw little improvement. The skin around my eyes appeared tighter, not so crepe. But I still see some discoloration on my cheeks and jawline and pore size was still obvious. Actually my pores appeared larger which as the result of the product overload. Other than slight blemishes and greasy skin I was concerned by the packaging. You obviously could not over dose on the product by the individual tubes Olay provided but I couldn't help but wonder about the waste that was piling up form using individual tubes of serum. Couldn't they just give you two tubes of product good for 7 days each and tell you how much to pump out? I did not find the packaging very eco friendly.Then they had this large plastic tray to hold the tubes in.I can see how it is a nice display but this huge piece of plastic will most likely end up in a landfill if the user doesn't bother to recycle. I would say that if you are spending $26.99 I would bet half of it was based off of packaging.

Olay Regenerisit 14 day skin recovery grade: D

Note from Lydia:
I tried this product out when it first appeared on the market, and I liked it. It made my skin feel smooth, soft, and "lifted". I did notice that the amount of product seemed generous, but I just made sure to put the excess on my neck and chest. Click here for my 2008 review of the product. The mask must be very new...I've used this several times in the past and there was no mask included.

Another note from Lydia:
If YOU are interested in sending me your thoughts about a beauty product and acting as a Guest Blogger, please send me an email. Or if you follow me on Twitter, DM me!

Finally The Release Day of " Loso's Way " !

Do I really have to say much ?

I just hope you all went out and got the album and you should know which one i'm talking about. Unfortunately, I didn't get the DVD/movie but I was still able to get my hands on 3. Saddity was so happy today because today was her "man's" day. :). she took off work and everything lol JK. Everyone who knows MOB knows how crazy she is when it comes to Mr. Loso but anyway I've been listening to the album since 3:30 pm and its still playing. . .

Everyone who copped , ENJOY, because I am :D

L'OREAL Colour Riche L/S: Swatches -- Part 2 of 2

Here is part 2 of the L'oreal lip swatches. Part 1 is HERE.

Again, my mini collection:

6. BRAZIL NUT -- Another one I love. This is a brown shade, without much red on it and less dark than Cinnamon Toast. Goes great with a neutral or natural look. Creamy finish.

(artificial lighting)

(natural lighting)

7. CASHMERE -- For me this is a neutral pink shade with gold specks. It looks kind of frosty but I say "kind of" because it doesn't make the cracks on my lips look terrible as others do. It is like a mixing a lippie of a creamy finish with a frost one. I really like the color this one gives to my lips.

(artificial lighting)

(natural lighting)

8. SPICE -- Whoa, this is a super deep-dark brown color with a touch of red maybe? It's perfect for the goth look. Reminds me of one of MAC's lipsticks from the Cult of Cherry collection (can't remember the name, lol). I usually taint my lips with this l/s, I'm aware this is way too dark for me. But I love it like that. This will look gorgeous on dark skinned ladies.

(artificial lighting)

(natural lighting)

9. DUNE -- This look very glittery and metallic under my bathroom light but in real life looks great. At first it looks similar to Cashmere but this one is more champagne-ish, has more beige on it. Perfect for a look that requires nude lips. I like that for being a nude shade, it gives good coverage to my lips, makes them looks moist with some sparkle.

(artificial lighting)

(natural lighting)

Well, that's it for my swatches. I like swatches. Most of the times they help me on making a decision about buying different products. Hope you find these helpful.

Later!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Summer Sizzle

I live in the beautiful, normally comfortable climate of the Pacific Northwest. We are known for rain and moderate weather conditions, unlike other places I have lived (growing up near Baltimore, I fully understand the dread that comes when Marty Bass says it's going to be hazy, hot, and humid). I've lived out here for 10 years now, and in that time I have become a Weather Wimp. I hate snow and detest heat. I like the sky overcast and the highs in the mid-50s, thank you very much.

Right now, however, the poor Pacific Northwest is in the middle of a kick-ass heat wave. For the next several days, it's going to be in the upper 90s. That wouldn't be too awful for me, a Baltimore girl, if air conditioning were the norm. It's not. And I'm dying.

Apart from feeling hot, tired, and a little bitchier than normal, I'm also dealing with makeup that wants to melt right off my face and frizzy-ass hair thanks to the damned humidity. If you live in a hot climate, you know what I'm going through.

So...to help us all get through the evil heat, here are some top tips for keeping your makeup looking cool during the hot, hot summers:

Go easy on the products. In the heat, you sweat. When you cake on the makeup AND sweat, you're going to end up clogging your pores which will, of course, lead to breakouts. Sexy. So when it comes to dolling yourself up, stick to the essentials and forgo the extras. The more you put on, the more will just end up dripping off, after all!
Try a primer. Foundation primers smooth out your skin's surface and will help your foundation last a little longer. Some primers can also help cut down your shine factor, giving you a more velvety, matte appearance. Eye primers will make your eye shadows last longer and will help you avoid dreaded creasing.
Whenever you can, go waterproof. Waterproof mascaras and eyeliners won't smudge throughout the stinky hot days of summer like their normal counterparts. Yes, you'll need to use a little more elbow grease when you take the stuff off at the end of the day, but really...it's a small price to pay to not end up with raccoon eyes. Unless, of course, rabid raccoon is the look you're going for.
Ditch the heavy lipsticks and opt instead for a gloss. Better yet, make it a gloss with a little SPF in it. I would also advise against a long-wearing product since they tend to dry your lips out and make your mouth feel icky. Try a gloss that has mint in it for a nice burst of refreshing flavor.
Knock our your shine. If you're like me, your face is going to be glistening at the end of a hot day, and not in a goods way. You can help control shine with blotting papers, by using foundation primers, touching up with pressed powder, and by using oil control face washes.
Don't forget the two essentials: SPF and hydration. In the blazing sun, you need to keep your skin safe. Whenever you can, try to sneak in some SPF with your moisturizer, foundation, etc. And don't forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day. I know, I know...I'm nagging like your mother. Good. She's right.

So there you have it. Did I miss anything? If so, let me know--leave a comment. Otherwise: stay cool! And remember, only 40+ days until Labor Day...the unofficial end of summer. Hang in there!

L'OREAL Colour Riche L/S: Swatches -- Part 1 of 2

I've been meaning for a while to make and post these swatches of one of my fave drugstore lipsitcks: L'oreal Colour Riche L/S. Oh I love them. The formula is really creamy and moisturizing and now L'oreal has added Argan Oil too, which provides even more moisturizing properties to the whole formula. All I know is that when the l/s is fading, my lips feel so good, not all dry.

Here are the lipsticks I have to this date:

Swatches on a white sheet:

(Artificial Lighting)

I made the next swatches in the same order (from left to right) as shown above.
***NOTE 1: I took pics under different lighting as to show the truest shade of the lipstick. Pics where taken under natural and artificial (fluorescent) lighting. Pictures will be identify as to avoid confusion.

***NOTE 2: I took all these pictures on different days since I was making swatches on my lips and at some point my lips get all red and a bit swollen for cleaning them to try another shade. So in order to provide the truest, true to color pictures I divided the work in two days. I just applied the lipstick without any base or lip liner, so some of the photos will look a bit messy maybe? lol.

MY LIPS (for reference):

(artificial lighting)

(natural lighting)

1. RED RHAPSODY--Love this dark red shade, super creamy covers very well my pigmented lips.

(artificial lighting)

Under natural lighting looks a bit more cool
(natural lighting)

2. PEACH FUZZ -- As the name says, a frosted peachy shade with a small touch of pink, this tend to be more warm than cool. It covers quite good my lips, but if I use a good lip base I can get more of that girly color. Sadly, it does emphasizes are all the cracks in my mouth, I think it made my lips look older. =(

(artificial lighting)

(natural lighting)

3. MICA -- Mica is a strange color. I thought it would be a bit more plumish but actually looks more like frosted pink.

(artificial lighting)

(natural lighting)

4. SEA FLEUR--Ohhh, I love this one, a fuchsia so colorful and vibrant without overdoing it. It reminds me of Revlon's Super Lustrous L/S in Wild Orchid. I have used this in full color or just tainting my lips with it and gloss. Cool.

(artificial lighting)

(natural lighting)

5. CINNAMON TOAST-- One of my faves! It says cinnamon toast and I guess that is a great resemblance. I think this brown shade has more red/orange. I use this super creamy color for many earthy looks.

(artificial lighting)

(natural lighting)

It's late so I will be posting the second and final part tomorrow.

HTH!

Good night.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

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