GIVEAWAY!!!

Yay, its finally giveaway time!!! I really want to show my appreciation to everyone who stop my by blog, leave beautiful comments and spread the word. I've decided to giveaway a total of FIVE MAC LIPSTICKS or LIPGLASSES!!!! You choose the colors and combination; that could be five lipsticks or three lipsticks and two lipglasses or four lipglosses and one lipstick or five lipglasses... whatever you like, you get a total of FIVE! 

This giveaway excludes any lipsticks/glasses from the Wonder Woman Collection and Viva Glam Collection. Tinted Lipglass only. Your selections must be currently available and in-stock on maccosmetics.com. The giveaway is open to all readers (US and International).

Eligibility Requirements:

• You must be a Google subscriber (see sidebar). You can follow with your gmail or yahoo email addresses or your twitter account. 
• Leave a comment below sharing your favorite lip color/combination. 
• Like Faces by Tamara on Facebook here.

For additional entries:

• Follow me on Twitter here. (one extra entry)
• Tweet the following "I entered @facesbytamara MAC giveaway" (two extra entries)
• Subscribe on Youtube here. (one extra entry)
• Write a blog post about the giveaway on your blog and link back.  (three extra entries)

So that's a total of eight possible entries!!!! If you participate in the "additional entries" please leave your twitter, youtube and/or blog links in your comments. Remember this giveaway is open to US and International readers.

Giveaway closed.

Taking a Break from Blogging this Week.

I'm going to take this week off from posting to work on new projects I have planned for Faces by Tamara. Please take a moment to complete the survey below so I can get a better understanding of what you would like to see on the site.

Also I will be updating my blog roll so please leave your links in the comment section below so I can subscribe and comment. 

ps. There's a giveaway coming very, very soon!


**The poll is now closed**

Feel Good Friday

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you.”

~Maya Angelou

Tees by I.N. Studio
Boots by Acne

DIY Beauty | Sweet Almond Oil and Honey Facial Mask

 Photo Credit

Honey is my secret to bright, glowing skin. I use it in conjunction with sugar to exfoliate a couple times a month. Even though I have oily skin, I still experience dry patches during the winter months. I decided to whip up a mask using some of my favorite ingredients to combat my winter skin issues. The outcome.... soft, moisturized, glowing skin.

What you'll need: 
2 tbsp of Raw Honey
2 tbsp of Sweet Almond Oil
5 drops of Rose Essential Oil
2 drops of Vitamin E Oil (I buy the soft gel pill form and cut it open.)

Mix well. Massage onto clean face and neck with fingertips. Relax for 15 minutes, then rinse off with lukewarm water. Gently pat dry to reveal a fresh, soft complexion.

About the ingredients:
Raw Honey~ Heals and moisturizes dry patches of skin and inflamed areas. Raw honey has strong antibacterial properties that can act as a protective barrier on broken skin. Raw honey is also purported to stimulate skin regeneration.

Sweet Almond Oil~ Acts as an emollient to keep your lips soft and smooth all day. Sweet Almond Oil is easily absorbed making it a popular oil used in spas. It restores the skin's pH balance by preserving moisture lending it a glow.

Rose Essential Oil~ Acts a skin toner. It tightens skin pores making them decrease in size over time. It smells wonderful and is said to help combat stress and depression as well.

Vitamin E Oil~ Acts an an antioxidant which prevents the formation of free radicals on the skin and protects it from any kind of damage. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. It is also said to lighten acne scars over time. 

*Ingredients can be found at most local heath food stores or supermarkets.

Six Different Styles to Transition to Natural Hair

One of the hardest things about transitioning to natural hair is styling the two very different textures. Below are some options for those of you who want a little variety during your transition.


I know the BC isn't for everyone but it is an easy way to avoid dealing with two textures and it looks great on everyone, to me. 

Wear braids until your natural hair grows to your desired length.

Braid-outs and twist-outs blend the different two textures well. Braid or twist your hair while its wet and take them out when the hair is dry.

Funky up-dos are always cute.

Roller sets are fabulous and they usually blend the two textures seamlessly.

Weaves are also an option, you can even play around with different kinky textures to spice them up.

Photo Credits: here and here

Outfit Post | Only Girl In The World

I want you to love me, like I'm a hot guy
Keep thinkin' of me, doin' what you like
So boy forget about the world cuz it's gon' be me and you tonight
I wanna make your bed for ya, then imma make you swallow your pride



Want you to make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world
Like I'm the only one that you'll ever love
Like I'm the only one who knows your heart
Only girl in the world...
Like I'm the only one that's in command
Cuz I'm the only one who understands how to make you feel like a man
Want you to make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world
Like I'm the only one that you'll ever love
Like I'm the only one who knows your heart
Only one...



Want you to take me like a thief in the night
Hold me like a pillow, make me feel right
Baby I'll tell you all my secrets that I'm keepin', you can come inside
And when you enter, you ain't leavin', be my prisoner for the night



Want you to make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world
Like I'm the only one that you'll ever love
Like I'm the only one who knows your heart
Only girl in the world...
Like I'm the only one that's in command
Cuz I'm the only one who understands, like I'm the only one who knows your heart, only one...



Take me for a ride
Oh baby, take me high
Let me make you first
Oh make it last all night
Take me for a ride
Oh baby, take me high
Let me make you first
Make it last all night

Dress-Thrifted for $1/Leopard Coat-Victoria's Secret/Tights-Urban Outfitters/Shoes-Jessica Simpson

My boyfriend and I decided to go out and take a few photos before my birthday festivities that night. The next night he and my friends threw me a surprise birthday get-together and I was totally surprised. Apparently they had been planning for weeks. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world all weekend.



I was so over dressed because my boyfriend told me we were "going out dancing but he had to stop and pick something up at his cousin's house first". They got me good.




Song: Rihanna Only Girl In The World

2011 Golden Globe Awards | My Favorite Makeup Looks

 Christina Aguilera wore her signature cat-eyes and a great red lip.

 Love, love, love Dianna Argon's look. The berry lip was perfection.

 Eva Longoria looked flawless. I loved the nude lips and champagne eyes.

Ms. Berry looked stunning as usual. Her skin is a dream.

 Jennifer Lopez was bronzed to perfection with a great gray smokey eye.

 Jennifer Love Hewitt looks beautiful with her long lashes and nude waterline.

Mila Kunis looked super adorable, fresh and effortless.

Feel Good Friday | Its My Birthday!

“Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of 'you' to the world.”

  Picture from last year.

My 26th birthday is today and I feel a quarter-life crisis coming on. 

Outfit Post | Nappy Heads

So, Mona Lisa, could I get a date on Friday?
And if you're busy, I wouldn't mind taking
Saturday-ay-ay, ay-ay-ay
Round up de posse, Fugee comin around de way...



I don't puff blunts so I always got my breath
Never had to battle with a bullet proof vest
They call me cock-weasel but I, still cave a chest
I don't wear Jheri curls cause I'm nah from the West...



No disrespect to the West, true indeed
I rock it to the East, the East is the seed
To see that them days back, yo sheepskins and Hot Tracks
Peace to Mr. Magic, things are getting tragic...



Now we on some new stuff, I never feared the Ku Kluk
My own clan is actin up, I blame it on the Phillie blunt
Whatcha gonna do, kids are acting oooohhhh
Hill is gettin fed up, yo where's the coporate at...



A Mister Three Piece Suit
Check the square roots, Girbauds and Timberland boots
Nahhhh that's the serpents, and know them garment tips
I got a head full of problems and a hand full of nappy roots
I feel a Jones' comin down, yo I...



I got the slang to make the chitty-bang-bang
a-rid-dang-de-dang, the nappy head bang)
No I, got hte slang to make the chitty-bang-bang
a-rid-dang-de-dang, the nappy heads bang...



Yo Mona Lisa, could I get a date on Friday
And if you're busy, I wouldn't mind taking
Saturday-ay-ay, ay-ay-ay
Round up de posse, Fugee comin round de way
Ay-ay-ay, ay-ay-ay
Nappy heads in the zone and we're not goin home!



Dress-H&M/Jacket-Nordstrom/Scarf-NYC street vendor/Gloves-Aldo/Boots-TJ Maxx/Tights-Urban Outfitters/Necklace-my boyfriend's/Earrings-ModCloth
Song: The Fugees Nappy Heads

The Bentonite Clay Mask and Me

I've been using the bentonite clay mask on my face sporadically for a couple years now. Little did I know, it has great effects on the hair as well. Bloggers and youtubers have been raving about how clean, moisturized and defined it leaves their curls so I decided to give it a try.



On the hair bentonite clay is said to clarify by removing dirt, oil and product build-up, give sheen, detangle and enhance natural curl pattern. On the skin it is said to draw out toxins, improve skin tone, shrink pores and give a healthy glow. Sounds like a win-win product.

Bentonite clay is commonly used externally in mud baths, facial masks, various skin applications and is thought to promote clear skin. Bentonite clay has been used successfully as a treatment for a variety of skin infections and in arresting the spread of certain types of skin diseases.



My mixture consists of about 1/3 bentonite clay, 1/3 apple cider vinegar and 1/3 water. I mix these three contents until I get a thick clay like consistency. I applied the mask to my dry, unwashed hair and skin, left it on for about 20-30 minutes then rinsed it out. My hair did not require any additional moisture so I just followed up with a leave-in conditioner.



My hair absolutely loved the bentonite clay mask. As promised it left my hair soft and my coils were very defined. I will definitely add this to my regimen. As for my skin, it was soft and tight as usual.

Tutorial | Smoke Signals

What I Used:
MAC Select SPF 15 Foundation NC50
MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural Dark
MAC Painterly Paint Pot
MAC All That Glitters e/s
MAC Humid e/s
MAC Carbon e/s
MAC Teal Pigment
MAC Studio Finish Concealer (brow bone highlight)
MAC Black Track FluidLine
MAC Ambering Rose Blush
Stila Eyeliner in Topaz
Rimmel London Noir Eyeshadow
Benefit BadGal Mascara
MAC Fresh Salmon l/s
MAC Gold Dust l/g

Feel Good Friday

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."

~Harriet Tubman

Sandals by Jimmy Choo
Bracelets at Max & Chloe