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

Get the Look | Kelly Rowland

Love the simple and elegant makeup Kelly Rowland is wearing? Follow my steps below to Get the Look!

1. As always, beautiful makeup starts with beautiful skin. Be sure to cleanse, tone and moisturize your skin according to your skin type.  
2. Apply Face Atelier's Ultra Foundation all over the face. This is a great silicone-based foundation that don't crease and lasts all day. Set you foundation with a loose powder like Make Up For Ever Microfinish Powder.
3. Lightly sweep NARS Exhbit A Blush in your crease with a MAC 217 brush then line your top lash line with CoverGirl's LineExact Liquid Liner. Line your bottom line with CoverGirl's Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner. Add a little of MAC's Vanilla Pigment to your inner tear ducts then top it off with some fab lashes. 
4. Pull your NARS Exhibit A Blush out again and add it to the apple of your cheeks. To take it up a notch, lightly conture the sides of your nose with the same blush and BLEND. 
5. For the perfect pout, add Sephora's Maniac Long Wearing Lipstick in number 19 (watermelon rose cream) and top it off with MAC's Money, Honey ( a mid-tone rosy mauve with red pearl).
   

DIY | The Embellished Heel

What you'll need:

• a pair of heels
• necklace
• glue gun
• wire cutters

Glue the end of the necklace at the bottom of the heel. Wrap the length of the necklace around the heel, use small dabs of glue to keep it in place along the way.



All finished!

All Of Me: January Letter From the Editor

Every year I make tons of New Year's resolutions and I rarely keep them. I'm going to do a better job keeping in touch with friends, I'm going to do 100 sit-ups every night before bed, I'm going to come out of my shell and become more outgoing... blah, blah, blah.

I spend a lot of time writing my resolutions out on pretty stationary, planning the perfect ending to the year... you know so there can be a perfect beginning to a perfect year. I've cleaned my house from top to bottom, I ate black-eyed peas and collard greens to make sure my luck was good and money on point. I've brought in the new year at church in prayer, at an overcrowded party spending way too much money on drinks. I've been in front of the television watching movies, sleeping, laughing and toasting to life with my closet girlfriends, rubbing elbows with movers and shakers, magical moments with boyfriends hoping that love would linger around a little longer... you get the point. All to ensure I started the new year fabulously. Over the years I've become an expert at creating perfect scenarios to guarantee the pendulum will stay on my side for the upcoming year.

None of these things helped me usher in drastic changes on January 1. When I reflect on times in my life where I made a change I realized that I had to change my attitude and I had to be patient. Nothing or no one changes at an instant or when the clock strikes twelve. There was nothing that was going to magically occur that would make me change into the better person I wanted to be.

So this year I decided to take a different approach. I will not give up if my goals are not met by January 15. I will enjoy the journey. I will work on becoming a better Tamara from the inside out. I do not need to wait on a magical date to change my life. I will work to improve daily. I will accept my faults and be honest about them. I will live, smile more, laugh more. I will appreciate my blessings. I will take chances. I will give all of me. 

Are you good at keeping your New Year's Resolutions? Are you taking a different approach this year?

Tamara

Enjoying My Family!

I will not be updating the blog this week. Please take a moment to look around and read some older posts. 

Hope you have a blessed, safe and prosperous New Year!

Feel Good Friday

"We are all gifted, but we have to discover the gift, uncover the gift, nurture and develop the gift and use it for the Glory of God and for the liberation struggle of our people. "

~Minister Louis Farrakhan 

Accent Bowls by Crate & Barrel
Clutches by Halston

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!  

Choosing The Right Foundation For Your Skin Type

We all know what a headache finding the right foundation can be. Choosing the wrong foundations can lead to break outs, ashy skin, two-toned skin... just a plethora of problems. Half the battle of choosing the right foundation is choosing the foundation that right for your skin type. We all know that foundations must match your tone, the perfect amount of coverage is important but the foundation should also be work well with your skin type to ensure a flawless finish.

 

 My Work

Oily Skin~ Oily skin is caused by over-active glands, which produce a substance called Asebum, a naturally healthy skin lubricant. When the skin produces too much sebum, it becomes thick and heavy in texture. It is prone to blackheads. The oil oozes and gives the skin a greasy shine. The pores are enlarged and the skin has a coarse look.

• Pressed Powder Foundation:  Pressed powder controls shine while leaving the skin with a matte finish.
• Oil-Free Liquid Foundation: An oil free liquid foundation is great for oily skin. It can also give you a dewy look while controlling oil.
• Mineral Makeup: Offers light-medium coverage while absorbing excess oil and hydrating the skin.

Dry Skin~ Dry skin has a low level of sebum and can be prone to sensitivity. The skin has a parched look caused by its inability to retain moisture. It usually feels "tight" and uncomfortable after washing unless some type of moisturizer or skin cream is applied

• Cream Foundation: Cream foundation's are grerat for drier skin-types because they tend to be more moisturizing and lends a dewy finish to the skin. 
• Tinted Moisturizer: Tinted moisturizers offers a slight hint of color while hydrating the skin. This is perfect for achieving that "fresh faced, no-makeup" look. 

Normal Skin~ If you don’t have a problem with oily skin or breakouts, and you don’t feel that your skin is dry and tight then lucky you... You have normal skin.

• Tinted Moisturizer: Tinted moisturizers offers a slight hint of color while hydrating the skin.
• Mineral Foundation: Offers light-medium coverage while absorbing excess oil and hydrating the skin.
• Liquid Foundation: Offers light-medium coverage in a variety of finishes while evening out skin tone and hydrating the skin.
• Cream Foundation: Ideal for those uneven skin tones or if you're looking for heavier coverage. 

Combination Skin~ Combination skin is a term used to describe facial skin that shows symptoms of both dry skin and oily skin. Combination skin can be a challenge to care for effectively, as oil-decreasing products may be over-drying in certain places on the skin, while moisturizing products may cause excessive oiliness in other areas.

• Cream-Powder Foundation: Best suited for heavy coverage, cream to powder foundation controls shine in the T-zone and leaves your skin fresh and flawless.
• Liquid-Powder Foundation: This type of makeup is ideal for those looking for light-medium coverage.

Sensitive/Acne-prone skin~ Acne prone skin is a condition that occurs due to the overproduction of oil by the oil glands of the skin. The oil that normally lubricates the skin gets trapped in blocked oil ducts and results in what we know as pimples, blackheads and whiteheads on the surface of skin. Sometimes it also includes deeper skin lesions that are called cysts.

• If you have sensitive/acne prone skin, it's best to reach for foundations with moisturizing ingredients, oil-free, paraben and fragrance free, as well as allergy tested. 
• Visit a dermatologist to find a path for healthier skin.