Happy Friday! I’m beaming with a huge smile from ear-to-ear! I’ve always looked forward to the weekend, but since I started my new job, I borderline shed tears of joy at the thought of being able to sleep in and lounge around my apartment in my PJ’s for an entire day. Any-who I wanted to share a glam fashion moment with you all!

Ashlee Simpson has the fashion world buzzing with chatter about the Alice + Olivia gown that she wore to the opening of the American Ballet Theatre.

I’m usually not a fan of pieces that have a lot going on in the details department, but I absolutely adore this dress on her. I like the feathers around the waist, the lace upper, the sparkles and the cut-out back.

Her flirty chignon and those gorgeous emerald Ocnarf Sairutsa are the perfect balance for this decadent piece. Definitely HAUTE!

What do you think about Ashlee’s Alice + Olivia gown? Haute or Not?

Ciao Bellas,

Yes, you read the headline correctly… me and my RiRi Woo covered lips tried speed dating for the very first time!

On Friday, I was one of the many lipstick-loving gals who purchased Rihanna’s limited-edition RiRi Woo lipstick from the MAC Cosmetics website and by this past Monday, I was opening a package that contained the gorgeous lippie.

It was definitely love at first swipe for me! I knew that my friend and I were going to try speed dating that evening (Just because it was something to do and we knew that if nothing, we’d have funny stories to share) and I knew that this would be the perfect accent for the evening.

I love lipstick and I’m a sucker for a pretty, matte red lipstick, so when I tried on RiRi Woo, I was actually nervous. Once I got it on I literally screamed because I loved the bright, effervescent glow that this product had.  It has a retro look and feel to it, and although it’s a highly-pigmented lip color, it’s wasn’t overwhelming.

I felt pretty and sophisticated wearing it and I’m slightly addicted. (I’ve even been wearing it during my evening Golden Girls viewing sessions after work!)  I do advise you to make sure your lips are exfoliated and that you add a primer to them before applying the product because this lipstick has an intense matte finish. Plus, dry, cracked lips just are not the business!

So, back to speed dating. In addition to my RiRi Woo lipstick, I wore an amethyst French Connection Spotlight Kiss bandage dress and Boutique 9′s Nosey Rhinestone pumps.

The event itself was… AWKWARD! Yes, it was nice to meet new people and to see if you shared any interests, but the guys that were involved were totally not my style. I encountered a crazy, tipsy frat boy who, a workaholic from London, a very nice attorney who was too old and weird and one guy from Mexico who was funny and engaging, but he partied way too much. Nobody got my contact information that night!

The highlight of the evening was hands-down wearing my new RiRi Woo lipstick. I fell in love with it, so I guess I still ended up winning!

Ciao Bellas,

Margo

Last night while scrolling through Instagram, I came across several pictures of America’s favorite bad gal, Rihanna in a colorful get up.

The singer stepped out in a vibrantly-hued, printed Mary Katrantzou leather T-shirt (Dopeness, indeed!), frayed black shorts and Tom Ford’s  Strappy, Buckled Sandal Boots.

Look at those legs! I love Tom Ford, but these boots aren’t my style. However that shirt (I’m a total sucker for bold prints) and frayed shorts combination is a fun look for a night out.

For those gorgeous gams and the playful clothing combo, I’m saying HAUTE!

What do you think of Rihanna’s look? Haute or Not? 

Photo Source: Instagram

Ciao Bellas,

I feel pretty, oh so pretty…. in this gorgeous spring weather  indeed! I hope that you all can share my sentiments, in addition to the much-needed Vitamin D from the sun, a huge part of my pretty girl swag comes from the DKNY’s limited collection Lip and Nail Set collection!

Yep, one of the leading fashion houses is giving us a dose of beauty glam to jump-start our  style in the glamtastic Spring/Summer seasons. The collection consists of three lipsticks and three nail lacquers Boho Chic- In The Buff Lipstick and Blushing Beige Nail Lacquer, Urban Fashionista- Runway Red Lipstick and Empire Red Nail Lacquer and  Whimsical Romantic- Pink Power Lipstick and Pink Perfection Nail Lacquer.

I was lucky enough to received 1/3 of the collection, the uber-fab Boho Chic duo from the collection (which consists of three lipsticks and three nail polishes) in the mail for review. (Yay!)

I’ve been rocking the DKNY Blushing beige Nail Lacquer on my nails for the past few weeks! I love the color so much! One day a friend, inquired about it; she was trying to figure out a way to describe it because it’s not quite coral (It’s much brighter than it looks in this pic) but it also isn’t a true orange. I call it a neon-coral nail polish! Another plus about this polish… it doesn’t chip quickly!

At first I was a little skeptical about trying out the DKNY In The Buff lipstick. I though that it would being too light and nude for my complexion and look washed-out on my lips. Boy, was I wrong! This lippie looked gorgeous once I applied it. The light, peachy shimmer that it has is just the right combination for a nice neutral lip. So far, I’ve worn it with a dark smokey eye and a light pastel ook.

I am very fond of this kit!

I fell in love with the Boho Chic duo and I have to get my hands on the other two! You can snag the 6-piece set from the DKNY website for $45. (Since when can you get three designer nail hues and three lippies for that price? I suggest that you get on this ASAP!)

What do you think of the DKNY Lip and Nail Set? Is it on your must-have beauty list?

Ciao Bellas,

Hey F& B lovers! I wanted to share a glam event that’s going on in Orlando this weekend.

Join hosts, Anna Bond (Rifle Paper Company), Lauren Bradshaw (Walnut Animal Society) and Samira Gast (who will be doing calligraphy) for the grand opening of a Splendid store at (my favorite places in Orlando) the Mall at Millenia.

The festivities will take place on Saturday  April 27 from 11 a.m.- 1p.m. The theme of the event is all kind of fun and adorable with a creative twist: it’s a card writing party with the “Write a note, everyday.” theme.  (Cute, right?) It’s perfect for a girl’s trip or even some quality time with your kids or significant other.

Guests will receive a 2-card set to use during the event. Other things to look forward to are custom Splendid postage stamps, an assortment of “le pens,wash tape and more!

I have a confession: I have a strange obsession with lotion and skin creams. I’m not saying this just to be witty; I really, really love lotion. My infatuation with having soft, moisturized skin started in elementary school and its only gotten stronger in adulthood. So, it’s only natural that when I heard about the O’Keeffe’s Working Hands and Healthy Feet creams, I knew that I had to try them!

I was super-ecstatic when I received some samples in the mail to test and review. Most of my body creams come in dainty packaging with frilly accents in soft, feminine colors, but O’Keeffe’s Working Hands and Healthy Feet creams didn’t. They had a utilitarian-chic look with their vibrant blue and green containers accented by bright orange text and ridging along the periphery of the lid (to help with twisting it open). Don’t be leery of giving it a try because the packaging actually suits the product very well—after all, these products are for people who work with their hands and who want to avoid the plight of dry, cracked heels.

I decided to try O’Keeffe’s Healthy Feet cream, first. Initially I was surprised by the texture of the product. It’s not soft and whipped like most body creams, instead it has more of a waxy texture that turn creamy once you scoop it out of the jar. I do more walking now than ever since I rely on public transit to get to and from work, so my heels were the perfect canvas for this beauty treat.

I was pleased with how the product felt going on. It was creamy and not greasy and it left my feet feeling soft. I applied it to my heels as well as the balls of my feet. I’ll incorporate this into my nightly routine by applying the cream and adding socks prior to bed.

Next up was O’Keeffe’s Working Hands, and let me tell you… I loved this product. I’ve always been a stickler for having soft hands ash-free hands, and finding a product that alleviates dryness without leaving hands greasy has always been somewhat of a challenge for me. (How embarrassing is it to shake someone’s hand with a damp, greasy palm? Yuck!)

O’Keeffe’s Working Hands has a similar wax-to-cream consistency to the Healthy Feet, but it’s not as thick in consistency. I like that the product is fragrance-free (so is Healthy feet) becasue I feel like most scented hand creams cause my palms to sweat more. All it took was a little bit of this cream and my hands felt soft and were ash-free!

I have sensitive skin, so Ingredients play a huge role in whether or not I can use a product and get good results. The O’Keeffe’s products contain glycerine, which continuously pulls moisture into the skin, is fregrance-free and is, overall, pretty awesome! I can honestly say that I like both of these products and they’ve earned a permanent place in my beauty drawer.

You can find O’Keeffe’s Working Hands and Working Hands at Bed Bath and Beyond ($6.99 ea.), most hardware stores and pharmacies nationwide. Healthy Feetare also carried at Target ($6.49) and Rite Aid.

Have you tried these products? What’s your take on them?

Ciao Bellas,

Congratulations to Danielle for winning Beauty & the Beat’s LashControl Mascara Mascara Giveaway!

Please check your e-mail for further details on how to claim your prize.

Congrats!

The first time that I heard about the GMJ 3D Vibrating Flat Iron, all that I could think to my self was: “Say what?! Why does a flat iron need to vibrate?”

Of course my curiosity caused me to research and eventually  purchase the product to see if it lived up to the rave reviews that it received on YouTube and other blogs. (It also didn’t hurt that I actually needed a new flat iron after breaking my go-to straightener into two pieces.)

Before I start gushing over this product, let’s answer my question of why a flat iron even needs to vibrate. According to the folks over at GMJ the vibrating plate technology “helps realign damaged hair and closes raised cuticles for a shiny, smooth appearance in half the time.”

Of course skepticism kicked in and I thought to myself: “Yeah right! How can vibrations make the process better-but-quicker?” (Side Note: When I first got this flat iron I didn’t know how to turn on the vibration technology… you have to hit the power button twice and I was only hitting it once. It wasn’t until I mistakenly double tapped the power button that it began to vibrate.)

I definitely got better results when I turned on the vibrations than I did with it turned off. One of my go-to signs about the quality of an iron is if I have to keep straightening the same section over and over for results. With this one, I didn’t have to make multiple passes through my hair; one was enough.  (Note: The vibrations aren’t bad. It sounds similar to the buzz of clippers and the pulsating is pretty lights. I didn’t feel uncomfortable using the flat iron when it was turned on.)

In the above photos I had just washed. I turned the flat iron to 380 degrees and spritzed my hair with Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Straightening Mist to protect it from the heat. (Yes, heat protection is still important when you’re wearing extensions!)

My hair was big and wavy, but it was easy to get straight using the  GMJ 3D Vibrating Flat Iron, and I can honestly say that I was very pleased with the bone straight results that I got. My hair felt soft and it didn’t frizz up throughout the day despite humidity and rain. ( I’m totally over these April showers!)

Now that you know how great my results were using the actual product let me give you the scoop on what you get when you order it! The first thing that really stood out to me about this product was the packaging and the features. I loved the face that it came with two detachable curling devices that help create curls (I haven’t mastered how to use these; it’s still a work in progress. It’s easier for me to curl my hair using the plain flat iron.) and a nice traveling case that I LOVE.

It also has cute red, ceramic tourmaline plates and a digital display with adjustable temperatures that range from 166-450 degrees  F.  (It heats up very fast!) Another feature is that it automatically shuts off after 90 minutes. (My mom would be proud because, even though I have my own apartment, she’s always asking me if I turned off the stove and unplugged my flat iron.)

Want to add this fab beauty find to your hot tools collection? You can find it for about $90 at Overstock.com.

Have you tried the GMJ 3D Vibrating Flat Iron? Are you a fan of this kind of new technology?

Image Source

Ciao Bellas,

It seems like Kandi Buruss has no intentions of letting up on expanding her entertainment empire. The Real Housewives of Atlanta star stepped out in the white, Ari Studded Dress by bebe at the premiere of her new show, The Kandi Factory.

This piece is an online exclusive that costs $350, and it’s selling fast! Shop for yours, here.

I like this look on Kandi a lot.  (Doesn’t she look happy with her fiance Todd and cutie-pie daughter Riley?)

I don’t love her shoe choice (A shimmery red, pointed-toe wouldn’t have been my go-to for this particular look.), but she wears this piece quite well. It’s figure-flattering and she looks chic! HAUTE!

What do you think of Kandi’s Bebe dress? Haute or not?

Ciao Bells,

Many of you might not really know this, but I’m a naturally, curly-haired girl who loves testing different types of hair care products. There is no better feeling than finding that go-to product that feels like it’s “The One.” After trying out the Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Light Moisture Curl Set, I’ve definitely encountered one my true hair loves.

I was super-ecstatic when I checked my mailbox and saw that this fabulous collection was sent to me for review. I’ve always been a fan of the Carol’s Daughter brand (I even had a glam interview with Lisa Price, the brand’s founder, at a Macy’s curly-hair event announcing the new and improved Hair Milk Collection.), but I must admit that I never really gave them a try until now. (How did I sleep on this beauty goodness for this long?!)

I started out my test-drive with of this line by cleansing my hair with the Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner ($18). Besides the fact that it smells SOOOO GOOD, the first thing that I noticed about this product was its texture. It wasn’t watery, but it also wasn’t a heavy cream; it was the perfect balance. My hair felt extremely soft post-wash and my curls were definitely defined. (Tip: Instead of leaning your head back when washing, try leaning forward. It helps add definition to curls!) I’m not big on co-washing my hair because I love a good shampoo, but I’ll definitely use this product when I do an occasional co-wash.

My absolute favorite product from the line is hands-down the Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Original Leave-In Moisturizer ($20). It has a very light, sweet scent and my thirsty tresses lived for this creamy moisturizer. One of the biggest tips that I got from Lisa Price during our interview was the importance of moisturizing my hair and sealing it with an oil. This product gives a gorgeous shine and made the detangling process super-easy. I loved the way it left my hair looking and smelling.

Even though my hair was very soft post-wash using the Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner, it still was quite parched, and this moisturizer was just what I needed. I have very fine hair, but I tend to be a little heavy-handed when it comes to product distribution. You only need a bout a quarter-sized amount of this product at the most!

Last, but not least, I used the Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Pudding Style. Define. Hold ($22) to do a twist-out. The consistency of this pudding is smooth and not too thick or clumpy. I did a flat twist-out using this pudding (on damp hair) and I honestly didn’t think that I was going to get the results that I desired because the product wasn’t sticky or as thick as I’m used to with other styling puddings. After competing my flat twists, I covered my hair with a satin bonnet and the next morning I unraveled the twists and was very pleased with the curl definition. My hair felt light and it looked good. (There was shrinkage, but I didn’t do banding or any other methods to stretch my hair.)

Overall, I was very pleased with the Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk collection. I’m so glad that I was able to try it out and my curls are just as thrilled!

You can get the Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Light Moisture Curl Set for $54.

What’s your favorite product from the line? Are you a fan of the lightweight formula?

Ciao Bellas,