Product Review: Cantu

Let's Review

Cantu!

@RoyalBeautyV (instagram) 

September | 2013

Everybody loves Cantu! When I returned to natural for the first time a beautiful natural sister in the hair store recommended this product line for me. Her hair was beautiful so I thought…hey if it works for her then it should work for me! 

The products pictured here are from my personal hair care haul and although Cantu has a very large line, these are the only products that I have purchased. Did they live up to the hype?

Let's talk about this line. Why is it so popular amongst naturals?

Cantu products are...

• Made with pure shea butter
• it's Gentle formula removes buildup
• it leaves hair soft and shiny
• are Safe for relaxed or color treated hair
• Helps protect your hair from heat damage
• and very Affordable

The Cantu Review!

Cantu Rinse Out Conditioner

Beauty Intoxicated Product Grade: B+

Ok so when I made the choice to buy these products this conditioner is what I was dying to try first and the price point was right up my ally so I wasn't nervous about buying it. It's priced under $5 and I easily went through about 2 bottles a month because I use A LOT of conditioner. When I used it my hair was very soft and manageable and I didn't have any tangles whatsoever.

I haven't tried this as a leave-in yet because it clearly states that its a "rinse out" conditioner. Some naturals will use any conditioner as a leave-in but I'm a little apprehensive of that. Now when I'm doing my shower rinse I do leave a little product on my hair just so I can feel that some of it is still there and working:) Is it safe to use a "rinse-out" as a "leave-in"?? Click here for more info on that topic. To say the least after using this product I still felt like there was something better out on the market that I could use, I wasn't deeply in love at all. I wasn't disappointed either…I was just satisfied.

Cantu Cream Shampoo

Beauty Intoxicated Product Grade: C

I wasn't that excited about purchasing this shampoo and it's probably because I've never had a shampoo that was exciting lol. I really just don't like how harsh the process is on black hair but you have to clean your tresses right?!  Well, this one didn't seem any different from other shampoos that i've used. I'm going to be honest...my hair and scalp felt clean but it still felt like my hair's natural oils were stripped. I despise that feeling YUK! It's going to cost you around $4 and I recommend pre-pooing before you use this product. A "pre-poo" is usually a treatment applied to hair prior to shampooing and yes it's necessary.

Cantu Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream

Beauty Intoxicated Product Grade: C+

I picked up this leave-in repair cream because of it's description. I have some small areas in my hair that I like to pay special attention to so this cream seemed like a good buy. I love the way it smells but I noticed that it doesn't mix well with other products and it's best if applied to freshly washed clean hair. I do not recommend this on old hair that has other products in it because it leaves a noticeable residue. Those unsightly mini white product-balls are a hell no-no! LOL

Cantu-Curl Activatior

Beauty Intoxicated Product Grade: C

A few weeks later I was ready for a visit back to the beauty supply store because of a review I saw on instagram. I read a short insta-review on this activator and it peeked my interest enough to want to try it. I'm going to tell you right now…if you mix it with other products you are going to have a milky residue in your hair and if your are anything like me then prepare to be mad lol. This pasty residue will become more translucent as it begins to dry but you will need to wash it out at the end of your day because it feels tacky and I don't mean tacky as in 'tasteless" I mean tacky to the touch. In my opinion, this curl activator is better on wash-n-go hair. I'm a twistout Queen and wash-n-go's aren't really my thing. If you love your wng's then you probably would love this product because it does activate your curls beautifully.

Check out some of these Reviews from my Instagram friends:

@paintmepretty4uI used these products when I first began my natural journey. Although I've tried many more since then I keep these products on hand. Great smell, lightweight and no filmy residue.

@lawann_33I do used these products when I started out. They are great products especially the leave in conditioner it is definitely a must have. I recommend anyone rather a natural or relaxed hair to use cantu you will not be disappointed.

@shatrulybless_spoil

I am new to this natural hair and so far I'm loving it but I have heard to use this product b/c it works so good! I'm alway looking at ways to help condition my hair n grow! So any tips will help. I will be getting this product to start off with tomorrow!

I hope you all enjoyed these reviews! If you have a product you would like me to try out leave a comment below or shoot me an email at beautyintoxicated@gmail.com 

Peace & Light Curlfriends! 

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Favorite Natural Hair Products

By RoyalBeautyV
BeautyIntoxicated.com © 
RoyalBeautyV@gmail.com
July, 2013

I get asked this question all the time...What are my favorite products? What products do I use the most?

Those are excellent questions beauties! I'm the type of person that has to fall in love with something before I purchase it. It has to stand out for many reasons and packaging isn't one of them!

Huh?! What?!  Bet you didn't know I was to say that did ya ;) *wink*. No but seriously I'm not sucked into fancy packaging because I believe "you can NOT judge a book by it's cover". I've had some of the best things come in plain packages. I'm solely looking for quality in every aspect of my life!

When it comes to hair products, it's important that I only use what's good for my natural hair. My hair is my side-chick and I love her lol! No but seriously I'm so serious about what goes into my hair because it's one of my best assets. Don't you have a favorite asset? Your rump, your eyes, your thighs???? Mine is my hair. And if you want to go a step further just for general purpose GP, my eyes are my 2nd favorite LOL.

Anywho here's a rundown of what I, (@royalbeautyv) love to use for my Natural Hair. Think of it as a "kit list", and don't steal that phrase because I just coined it LOL! I'm gonna copyright it later (yea, right!) LOL.

Protein Treatment (once a month)
Greek Yogurt: Yup just slap that food right in, let it set under a plastic cap for about 30mins and rise out!

My Shampooing/Conditioning Regimen: (once a week)
Terressentials Lavendar Mud Clay Wash: it's my hair detox. It washes impurities and unseen synthetic residues that may have been present in other products I've used throughout the week
Kinky Curly's Organic Gentle Shampoo: because it's gentle on my tresses and doesn't dry my hair out after shampooing.
Dax Roots Hair Mayonaise: It has mayo and egg protein and I use it to restore the protein back in my hair.
Cantu Shea Butter Rinse Out Conditioner: It makes my hair superrrrrrr soft
Organic Aloe Vera Juice: to strengthen and grow my hair. It also gives a beautiful natural hair some shine, post styling (used cold straight from the bottle BEFORE I seal in my moisture with an oil)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Flaxseed Oil: to seal in the moisture on wet hair after I used my aloe vera juice

Moisturizing (Twice a day | Day and Night)
Water/Aloe Juice mixture: I use it for growth and strengthening purposes. (1 part aloe vera juice and 2 parts water)
Cashmere Curls Leave-in Conditioner: lightweight doesn't leave residue and moisturizes like an angel sent from heaven LOL, seriously tho!
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: lightweight oil that aid in dandruff prevention and it's great for scalp health.
Flaxseed Oil: also lightweight and great for growth.
*I rotate those oils, I don't use both in the same day. To make sure your hair is retaining moisture be sure to hydrate it by water-spritzing and then LOCK IN THAT MOISTURE with a healthy oil. 

Styling (as needed)
Dax Roots Bergamot Butter: Good for dry hair and reduces breakage while enhancing length
Cashmere Curl Soufflé: it's a good curl cream and smells like buttercream cupcakes LOL!
Beautiful Textures Curl Definer: use it as a curl pudding/definer when doing my 2-Strand Twistouts.
Curls Unleashed Curling Jelly: gives my curls an all day hold without the stiffness of a gel.



Welp! Those are the staples in my Hair Care Regimen Curlfriends!!! I love them all and they play a HUGE roll in my hair's health!!

What are your favorite products?
Stroll down to leave your comments below!

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New Hair

It's time to Transform!

For the last 10 years I have worn extensions in my hair and I truly loved the expierence. I felt very beautiful and confident with long tresses down my back, it was my preference. Every now and then people would tell me to 'learn to love exactly what God gave me', and I would take offense to that statement.  Were they implying that I didn't love myself because I chose to wear weave? Make no mistake about it I DO LOVE EVERYYYYY part of me but I also love to enhance what I already have and there is NOTHING wrong with that. I view hair as an accessory, just like you add clothing, jewelry, tattoos and etc…you have the option to add hair. Originally I added hair to add "fullness" to my mane, it was my solution to my thinning problem. My hair was thinning due to all the processing that it had undergone as I was growing up. By the time I hit my twenties I felt like my hair was too damaged to wear out. After further damaging my hair by glueing in tracks I switched over to sew in's. Sew-In's help to grow my hair back to it's original thickness but it was still damaged. A few years ago I did the BIG CHOP and now my hair has grown back like wild fire into a full lioness mane LOL!

One of the problems African American women face is the lack of knowledge in caring and styling our OWN hair types.  Our hair is coily, kinky, nappy and THAT IS ALL GOOD!  What we need to understand it that THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH OUR HAIR! Don't think that bone straight hair mirroring the image of our European counterparts makes us "more" beautiful, that's a misconception. A misconception that I fell victim to for years.  I had the pleasure of being a part of an African Weekend Workshop where we were educated on our roots literally! Natural hair was everywhere and Natural hair is AMAZING, you just have to become knowledgable on the proper ways to maintenance your own texture. 

If you have been keeping up with my articles you will see how full my natural is. Now I'm at a point in my life where I'm ready to give up weave all together. It's transition time! I'm so Excited about it too!! 

I'm on the fence between getting beautiful locs or experimenting with curly styles. Whatever I decide I will most definitely share with my readers:) I'm currently on hold from doing anything to my hair because I have a horrible cut on my thumb that required stitches from a injury that occurred about a week ago. Anywho that's a cooking story nightmare and a different story that I will share on a different day lol. 

Some of the products I will be picking up for my Natural Hair journey will be a wide tooth comb, Shea Butter, Eco Gel, Coconut Oil, Argan Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. 

BEAUTIFUL AFRICAN HAIR HERE I COME!!!

Share/Email us some of your expierences from your Natural Hair journey! 

May 25, 2013

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Great Eye Liner

By RoyalBeautyV
BeautyIntoxicated.com
© March 10, 2013

Milani Eye-Liner


I have been on a hunt for an affordable black eye-liner that doesn't smudge and I have finally found one! I'm so hyped and excited!!
My work day starts around 8am and my skin type is somewhat oily so I needed a liner that won't end up all over my face by noon LOL. The problem I was having with my favorite 'true black' NYX Cosmetics liner was that it wasn't even giving me two-hours of hold time and we can't have that type of nonsense hehehe! I love NYX because it goes on so smooth but it smudges fast, it's not horrible but I needed something better.

This weekend on my Target shopping excursion I stumbled upon Milani's long-lasting, smudge-proof liquid like liner and I was compelled to try it. It claimed to have 24-hour staying power so I was very intrigued to purchase it especially with Target's affordable price of $7.00.

I'm a MAC cosmetics lover so I'm used to paying an average of $15+ for a liner and for the quality that MAC gives it's always worth it however, show me a liner with the same level of "awesomeness" at a more affordable price and YESSSSSSS I'm hopping on it! Duhhhh LOL. Anywho, I put Milani to the test and the product passed with an A+!

I absolutely LOVE it, it's BOLD, smooth, long-lasting and oh-so Fabb! I do recommend this liner to all you beauties!

Milani Liquid Like Liner

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Gifts for Men on Valentine's Day

By RoyalBeautyV

BeautyIntoxicated.com

© February 13, 2013

Gifts for Men on V-day!

Valentines Day is a few hours away!! What are you going to do for your boo? Men are a little difficult to shop for on V-day! Need some suggestions? Well here we goooooooo….








1. A great unisex gift idea is the oh-so-popular Edible Arrangements! Who doesn't like sweet, tasty fruitful treats??

2. A Leather Watch Case is a Great gift for men on this special day!! You can even get them personalized and if you're really fancy fill it up with watches too!! Men love watches so you may have to pick your man up off the floor from passing out lol!

3. Another great Beauty Intoxicated gift suggestion is the ever so dapper cuff-links case! We here at BeautyIntox are into men looking presidential and debonair so this gift idea is a perfect compliment to just that! To step it up a notch….Fill it up with different styles of cuff-links!!

4. Gift Suggestion Numero cuatro! A standing valet!! How amazing is that for your guy!! Men love to lay their clothing out before getting dressed and this is a great way for you to help them stay organized!

5. Ohhhh Yesss!! Now we are talking!! How about a unique Whiskey and Stone Set!! It's so out of the box, he will have no choice but to like it and use it!! Men love the "newness" of things! These whiskey stones are very popular in the world of wealth and they keep the Wiskey chilled!! How spectacular is that!

We hope you loved our suggestions!! We would love your feedback! Happy V-Day!!

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New Bath Product | Skin Milk

Isn't it crazy how a small change in your simple routine can make your day seem "new". It kinda gives you a new attitude too!

Try out this NEW bath product so you can pamper yourself later.

This bath milk delivers divine pleasure honey!

It's so soft and soothing and made with real milk proteins. It's a very thick foaming bath cream made for everyday use but I recommend using it only as a treat to yourself. 

The Vitamins A, D, and E are the softening agents in it and the botanical extracts of White Lily and Comfrey (herb said to have healing powers) add that soothing scent that is pure ecstasy. These vitamins also hydrate the skin leaving it looking and glowing at it's best. I swear I felt like I was getting a spa-treatment when my special guy surprised me with a candle-light milk bath. 

I highly recommend this product! You will not be disappointed! 

Cost: $6.00

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Hair

I took my Brazilian weave out last week and wore my Natural hair out for a day.

My hair has grown so much in the last two years. I actually love wearing it out but I dislike maintaining it so I dont even bother. Having to get up each morning and deal with hair is not something I will ever enjoy so I will forever remain a weave queen lol. I do not have bad hair days with my brazilian tresses, that's a problem I've eliminated.

The very next day I went and got my 5 month old Brazilian hair from www.kaizenvirginhair.com re-installed. Yes I purchased 2 and 1/2 bundles (10 oz) 5 months ago and its still beautiful and soft. I personally will never purchase hair from any other website.


If you are looking for quality and good results this is the site that I recommend:)

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Fruity Facials

I think I have the oiliest face on the planet. For the last year I have been experiencing an increase of noticeable oil on my face and I don't like it.

Lately in an effort to try something different and natural I have been researching all kinds of home remedies that could be useful in helping me with my problem. I love all-natural solutions because I truly believe that there is a herb or natural earthly product on this planet for every disease or aliment.

My research has lead me to FRUITS!!! Yes honey how simple is that right! It is said that 100% fruit juice (from the actual fruit not concentrated) contain healthy acids that loosen dead skin cells which causes them to fall away. When the dead skin cells are no longer present your skin is left feeling very smooth, clear and baby soft!

Citric acids from citrus fruits like grapes, strawberries, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and of course oranges are perfect examples of Fruity Facials that you can use on your own from the comfort of your own home.
Simply dab some of the juice from the fruit on your face with your fingertips and let it set for ten to fifteen minutes then give it a light rinse. The aroma therapy from this treatment is also very rewarding! You also may want to note that skin sunburns easily when you use fruit acids, so no matter what your ethnicity don't forget your sunscreen! You can't be walking around here fruity and sunburnt lol! Take care of yourself and I hope you enjoyed these Fruity Facial tips!!

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Celebrity Hair

Hair makes the Difference!!

It's amazing how hair and makeup can take a Plain Jane from forgettable and boring to star studded and stunning!
Your hair is one of the first things people notice about you. This is my current style and I'm so in love with it. My natural hair color is jet black, yes honey JET BLACK. The added virgin Brazilian inches sewn-in gives me an exotic look. Or maybe it's the Apache in me I don't know lol, whatever it is I'm OWNING it and beauties all around me want in! Everywhere I go people ask me who does my hair, or what kind of hair is this. Welp there you have it, it's 22inches of jet black Virgin Brazilian and it is not sold in stores.
Hair is an investment and I need hair that is going to be done with little maintenance daily. This Brazilian hair is soft and lasts me about 3 months. From the day it's installed until the day I remove it, the hair maintains it's lusture and tangle-free softness AND the hair is completely re-useable. You can get about 2-3 installs out of Brazilian hair.

Brazilian Hair Facts

Official Brazilian hair should be guaranteed 100% human with NO synthetic fibers. There is nothing more disappointing than finding a few strands of synthetic fibers in high priced hair. Oh Hellllll no!!!
Brazilian hair is 'virgin' meaning it has been collected from a donor. With that said you have to be conscience of the wave patterns being slightly different each time. The care that was given to the hair when it was first collected from the donor is very important so purchasing from a reputable site/company is the best way to ensure you are getting healthy and gorgeous hair.
Virgin Hair Cuticles should be layered to face the same direction from root to end at the time of wefting which helps prevent tangling. Weft extensions offer versatility in styling.
You will need about 8oz (2bundles/packs) for styles up to 16 inches in length and 12oz (3bundles/packs) for styles up to 24inches. The longer the hair the more bundles you will need to purchase.

Store Brand Hair Facts

Most human hair sold at your local beauty supply and hair stores have undergone a cuticle-stripping process. This process of removing the cuticle layor is done using harsh acidic chemicals that leave the hair dry and lifeless with strands that do not look or feel natural. Next a weight-less silicone based product is placed over the stripped cuticles to give the hair a processed shine and smooth appearance. Please believe that this is just an "appearance" because as soon as the silicone wears off your processed hair will become dull, nappy, mated and will easily tangle. Please stay away from the cheap stuff ladies. You get what you pay for!

Royal Beauty Recommendations

Anyone can obtain beautiful Celebrity Hair! You have to be willing to depart with a few extra coins and invest. In the long run you will see that your investment will turn into huge savings because good quality hair is reusable and stays beautiful 10X times longer.
Sites I recommend are:
Kaizenvirginhair.bigcartel.com (Reputable Virginia, USA vendor operated out of Hampton, VA)
and
belladreamhair.com (Reputable African-American Owned International vendor)

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Sexy Fragrance Alert!

Ladies next time you are in the mall stop past the fragrance counter and add Versace's Bright Crystal scent to your collection. It's a must have, TRUST ME!!

You can get the 3.0 fl oz gift set for about $88.00 and I know that may sound like a lot but it's a $118 value and the freebie women's tote that comes with it is worth it. It is said to be inspired by a mixture of Donatella Versace's favorite floral fragrances and the undertones of the scent is right up Ms. RoyalBeauty's alley! I'm in Love and you will be too!

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Crystal Light

We are not getting any younger.

Ok you all know that I'm not a stranger to healthy eating. A few years ago I was a top seller in VA for nutritional products before I ventured into focusing more on my writing career. Last year I tried to really walk the walk and go 100% vegan. LOL, ummmm yea that didn't last long, those soy products taste like cardboard and after about 2 months of no meat, a sista needed a bacon cheeseburger--Don't judge me!!

I'm not going to sit here and lie and say I eat healthy everyday because I don't but please believe me, A little Goes a Long Way! I'm not a big fan of salads but I do get my greens in. I believe if God wanted me to eat salads everyday he would've made me a brontosaurs. Nevertheless I am I huge fan of the great american cobb salad and YES it has to have some avocado in it or IM PROTESTING!!

Ok let me make my point....I want ya'll to try these Crystal Light beverages because they are better for you than traditional juices and they really taste amazing! One pack makes 2 quarts and contains about 5 calories a serving. I been drinking them for about a month and even though the favor says Appletini it is not an alcohol beverage so chill lol! I do high recommend this as your drink of course in your home. What you put into your body will undoubtedly show on the outside so please be conscience of that at all times.

Your Health is your Wealth.

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Clinque Foundations

Ok we have previously talked about Estee Lauder's foundation in an earlier blog, now I want to introduce you to Clinque's line.

Yesterday on my stroll through Greenbrier Mall (Chesapeake, VA) I bumped into a Clinque MUA. Her attitude was very pleasant and her enthusiasm for the products she represents was visibly genuine. I wanted to know why she was so happy about Clinque. The first thing that caught my eye was the fact that the have 30 shades to match any complexion! That was a huge plus for me because I love to recommend great products but before I do that I like to make sure that they have enough choices to please the masses.

Next, I asked her to shade me for my complexion and she asked the most important question that needs the correct response when shopping for foundation… "What type of skin do you have". (Dry, oily, or combination). This question is important because makeup is only as good as the skin underneath it. If you are wearing makeup be sure to purchase the right type for your skin type.

In my case I have oily skin, well--more like SUPER OILY!! I'm a walking disc ball! I can grease my scalp with the oil my face produces LOL! The kind she recommended for me was the Stay-Matte, Oil-Free option. When we selected my shade, what captured me next was how light it was. I could barely feel it on my skin and it still gave me the coverage I needed. The price was around $24.17 and for a premier foundation that's pretty good.

I do recommend Clinque's Foundations ladies…go try it out:) You will enjoy it too.

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Foundation

I have never been a fan of liquid foundation but lo and behold, I have stumbled one that has captured my heart. Estee Lauder's Double Wear Light is my newest vise. Stay tuned into this review because I had no intention on trying it, liking it or even buying it.

About a week ago as I was leaving Macy's MAC counter with my purchases I passed through Dillard's in Greenbrier Mall, Chesapeake, VA. I needed to stop pass Estee Lauder to picked up some Extreme Violet Mascara and end up chatting with a very knowledgable beauty advisor by the name of Roza Nuttall. Her personally was very welcoming and she introduced me to Estee Lauder's Double Wear light Liquid foundation. Let me remind you, I went to E.L. for some mascara NOT foundation. In the first few minutes of the conversation I was blown away about how much she knew about what was good for different skin types and she educated me on makeup that focuses on skin care.

I end up leaving with what I came for and a few free samples of the items she recommended. It took me a while to try the 10-day complimentary sample that she gave me and when I finally did----HOOKED!! I had to have the bottle. Estee Lauder is such as respectable brand and some people have misconceptions about their prices. My theory is, "You get what you pay for." In this case the foundation is only $35.00 and that to me is a steal. I have been using MAC's studio tech foundation for years and up until recently I have been very pleased with it. The only thing that I don't like about it is it's wearability. If you touch your face a lot of if your man loves to kiss your face a lot then it will come off and that's a con for me. It's about the same price as Estee Lauder Double Wear Light but E.L gives you the benefit of a 15-hour wear. This particular foundation controls oil, it has a very natural finish and is very lightweight. The formula resists smudging and won't melt off through heat and humidity.

If you are looking for a great foundation that is non-acnegenic, won't clog pores, fragrance and oil free and dermatologist tested then I highly suggest this product. A good compliment to it is the Matte Perfecting Primer that aids in extended wearability.

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NYX Cosmetics

I'm such a big fan of NYX Cosmetics!!!

To me and this is just myyyyyyy opinion….I like their shadows just as much as I like MAC!!! What?!!!

Their shadows and liners are so awesome. There are a lot of great brands out on the market but personally this is one of my favs. I have been using NYX for about 4 years now and the pigments are great. I prefer this brand over BH cosmetics.












When I step out and get dolled up I ALWAYS 100% of the time grab my NYX palette because I know without a doubt that I'm going to quickly and effortlessly get the results I want. The colors are so vibrant and truly unbelievable. I have had this one about 2years actually and when I say I'm in love with it, it's an understatement. I recommend any of their palettes, liners, jumbo liners and etc. Go on www.nyxcosmetics.com and shop shop shop! They have free shipping for orders over $50 and that is just fantastic!

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Organize your Fashion Chaos!

What's the point of buying a bunch of stuff just to have it tossed around, thrown all over your dresser or laying all over the place?

If you are going to invest your hard earned coins on awesome pieces at least show your appreciation to the brand by keeping it neat and organized. You'll thank yourself for it later.
A very effective and inexpensive way to "Organize Your Fashion Chaos" is purchasing a rotating shoe rack. Yep! Who would have ever thought!!! It's convenient because it can hold all of your hanging earrings, all your necklaces and bracelets. It's very heavy duty, after all it was designed to hold shoes and the best part to me is it rotates:)

Another great idea to help you organize your fashion chaos is purchasing a utility rack. This particular one is actually a 3tier rack and I love it because you are able to see all of your accessories and keep things separate and neat. It's sturdy enough for you to place all your clutches, more earrings and whatever other accessories you may have here. Both these items can be purchased at Target for $20 each and one thing is for certain, you will appreciate your things more if you treat them a little better:)

Those little earring holders from Claire's won't hold the large earrings I wear and it definitely won't house my entire collection. Some people like the jewelry towers or jewelry boxes....again, not for me because I need to be able to see my accessories. If it's out of sight for me then it's out of mind.

I hope these inexpensive tips are helpful to you!!! Have fun Organizing your Fashion Chaos!!

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Take Care of Your Skin: Proactive

Proper Skin Treatment is a MUST!! You can hide everything else on your body but unless your religion requires you to cover your face then 9 times out of 10 your face is probably exposed. The best thing you can do for yourself is take care of your skin.

Laziness is not an option when it comes to skin care. Makeup wil only go so far because you can't hide bad skin under it. Nope! Sure can't, in fact...makeup looks worse on bad skin. The purpose of makeup is to enhance your beauty so it's important to have beautiful skin underneath it. That only makes sense right?!

I Love makeup so it's especially important for me to keep my pores clean. My skin just went through a nasty transformation and I was experiencing breakouts and acne. I was getting really frustrated and started backtracking on what I could have possibly been doing wrong.



The first thing I thought of was my makeup brushes. I hadn't been cleaning them enough and yes makeup does carry bacteria so you have to keep your brushes thoroughly cleaned. Also I was neglecting my skin toner. Since I was a teen i have been using Palmers Medical Coco butter to keep my complexion even and free of blemishes. It really works! It's about $7-$8 a bottle but you are paying for results so that's not bad at all.

I decided to take more drastic measures and purchase some ProActive. I'm currently doing the 3step Cleaning System and I began to see results immediately!! I'm only 5 treatments into the process and I'm really anxious to see the 30 day results. I recommend purchasing ProActive online because you get more for your money however if you're in need of a quick-fix just visit the ProActive vending machine in your local mall.

Just remember this....It's important and extremely beneficial to take care of your skin. Pretty skin IS IN!!

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NEW SCENT | Eucalyptus Spearmint

I have had the sheer pleasure of inhaling one of the best fragrances of all time!
Eucalyptus Spearmint

That's a powerful statement isn't it?! Of all
time??? What makes me say that?
Well for starters the initial whiff of the spearmint is Euphoric!! It captivates your senses and pulls your entire being into a calming state of mind. Its opens up every pore on your body and commands your attention. The eucalyptus tones in the scent was the best compliment that Bath and Body Works could have done. What a pair!

Trust me this is the perfect addition to your fragrance collection. I have the lotion, the body wash, the candle and the body mist. When I use anything out of this gift set I feel like I'm in a soothing spa, it's worth every dime spent! Right now, it is my absolute favorite! Go out and grab yours!

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NEW FRAGRANCE | Reb'l Fleur by Rihanna

If you are anything like me then a simple aroma can put you in the most pleasant mood. It gives a whole new meaning to "AromaTherpy".

Scents and perfumes go hand-in-hand with that and I love picking up different perfumes! I highly recommend Rihanna's Reb'l Fleur it's truly a  dazzling line.

I picked up the ENTIRE gift set for only $65 and I promise you that is a steal!! I really felt like I was getting some freebies because the fragrance alone is worth that much. It's a sexy very feminine perfume (big bottle) that is accompanied by a 90mL shower gel, a 90mL body lotion and a pocket size perfume bottle that will fit in any size clutch bag. The black label bottle is the first release to this line and she also has a red label edition as well.

Any fashionista would adore this fragrance and it's truly worth adding to your collection!! Everyone loves to smell good so if you were ever wondering what perfume to purchase next, this one has my Royal thumbs up!!

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Moving Day

Finally settled!!!
Just moved out of my huge house into something more intimate and controllable. LOL, yes I used the word controllable because my last home was so BIG I had to hire "the help" to assist me in maintaining it and keep it clean. I was exhausted and completely done with the responsibility of having something so overwhelming so I decided to downsize just a wee-bit:)

Moving is exhausting in itself isn't it!!! Talk about drained...I AM BEAT! I did so much of the work myself because my husband has so many jobs and really couldn't be there to take on his share of the work. After all the packing and moving some boxes my brothers came through and completely took over the remainder of the work. THANK GOD FOR THEM!!! I was stressed, aggravated and in a horrible mood because I just wanted to snap my fingers like a genie and be done with the whole process. In some ways I feel like God granted me that wish when my brothers showed up with smiles on their faces, full of energy and ready to work:)

Let's face it, who likes the actual moving process? My brothers came and worked faster that any moving company could've and that was after they left their own jobs working a double shift!! I have a whole new respect for them. A few hours later they were done and my headache is over:)

So what are the TOP 5 things needed for a Stress-Free Inexpensive Move?
First- you need you Get packing supplies/tools. Get more than enough boxes because it's always better to have more than enough than "not enough".
You don't have to be all fancy and get special boxes either. A box is a box lol. Some people like to get those kitchen boxes that separates their glassware with little dividers. Ugh PLEASE! Save yourself a dime or two and wrap those glasses/plates up in some newspaper! They will be just as safe.

Second- Find some packing help! Grab a spouse/friend and start with one room at a time. My best friend Monique Yesenia came through without me even asking and starting packing. I'm so lucky to have a BFF like her. We sat down and discussed what we were going to work on first. It's easier when you have some direction of what you are actually doing. When you do one room at a time you start to see some progress and that does wonders for you mentally lol.

Third-Call your city's free trash removal service and schedule a pickup of the items that you are not taking. Instead of throwing away things that you don't want anymore call the Salvation Army and have them come and collect those items.

Forth-Set up your Moving Service. Call a moving company and reserve a truck at least 6-7days before your move. Don't forget to get a dolly as well, it helps move your boxes faster saving you 50% of the time.

Fifth-If you didn't hire men to help you move then call some male friends/fam at least a week in advance to assist you. Nobody likes last minute requests for help so be sure to get that out the way asap!!


Take this advice and your Moving Day will be a little less stressful than mine was lol!!
Ok I wish you a Happy Moving Day....and I do mean "Happy" :)

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It's all about the Eyes!

One of my best assets are my BIG eyes.

Because my eyes are so huge I prefer dramatic lashes. I just did a lengthy review on Strips vs. Individuals a few days ago so be sure to check that out but today I want to share with you all this great site that I just brought some awesome lashes from.

www.onedollareyelashes.com

After seeing a youtube tutorial about lash glue I was directed to this site and was NOT disappointed. I immediately saw a pair that I fell in love with and was happy that they came in pairs of 10!! I also brought the glue that was priced fairly because after all it is the BEST glue on the market. A few days later my purchase came and I was overjoyed!!! The shipping was fast and these lashes were everything I expected!!!

I brought the C2's and I honestly don't think I'll be shopping on another site or store ever again!! www.onedollareyelashes.com is my new lash home.

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