The Good, The Bad, and The Pretty: Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Styling Gel with sparkle lites

On today's plate is Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Styling Gel with sparkle lites, in a line of products that usually sings let me hold you down to hair this product in particular is as big a flop as Michelle’s solo career after Beyonce already came through.

The Good: 
There is good to speak of. The only stretch I can make is that at least it’s not expensive.

The Bad: 
No hold, no sparkle lites, no nothing. This entire tub is a waste of space and money. Save yourself the disappointment, people. My hair has not been affected in anyway, also when if you try to over compensate by adding more product your hair will be a thickly coated white crunchy mess. The end.

The Pretty:   
The tub is full of lies.

The Overall: 
Look to other products in the Fantasia IC line, this is the by far the ugly step-sister of the bunch. I won't give up on the other products, from what I've seen and experienced, they more so much more to offer.

----Dhores

The Good, The Bad, and The Pretty: Elasta QP DPR- 11

Hey people its Dhores and I've got a review for you all. After using Elasta QP DPR- 11 for some months I can say I have fallen in love. The first five ingredients include chamomilla recutita extract, urtica dioica extract, balm mint leaf oil, coltsfoot flower extract, horse chestnut extract. 

The Good: 
Your hair will feel baby soft, or at least mind did. With transitioning hair, finding a deep conditioner that works with both hair textures is extremely important .I found that this conditioner works well with softening my natural  roots and nourishing the permed ends. The product also provides great slip; I have testimony of that on both my own hair and my neighbor’s hair.

The Bad: 
This wouldn't work for people with fine hair. As you already know Marissa was the one who introduced me to this product. She gave it to me as a random act kindest between friends. She said it didn’t work as well for her as she expected. Looking back, the fact that it works well my neighbor’s hair and my hair, but not Marissa’s hair tells that the product is most likely a no-no for fine hair, as that is Marissa’s hair type and my neighbor and I have coarse hair.

The Pretty: 
The miracle in a tub...

 The Overall:
I would definitely recommend this product to anyone with thick, coarse hair. At the price of six dollars it’s a steal for what it gives.

The Good, The Bad, and The Pretty: CVS Purifying Mint Masque

"You look like a Haitian carnival mask"- my father the first day he saw me wear CVS Purifying Mint Masque. I used to have extremely acne prone skin and this product makes my skin look like it has always been perfect. The ingredient lists includes water, kaolin, bentonite, glycerin, and zinc oxide.

The Good: 
It makes sure pimples are DEALT with, the ingredients tells you that from get-go. My interest in this product came from the bentonite clay factor, for anyone who doesn’t know bentonite clay, it sucks out any impurities your skin or hair throws its way. The masque also works well with skin that is the oily type or combination type. I have yet to find a skin type that has had negative consequences after using this product.

The Bad: 
When you find something let me know. Seriously though, I have no complaints other than it leaves my face looking a bit ashy after I wash it but that’s nothing that can’t be handled with some moisturizer. 

The Pretty:   
So that you know what to look for....

The Overall: 
I don’t usually barter people but…. GET THIS PRODUCT if you have skin issues. Though it’s not a permanent fix, consistently using the mask is a great help. You should know that consistency is key when playing the perfect skin game. To put it in perspective when I run out of this product I defiantly make it a priority to replace it immediately, and I don’t hot step it for products easily.
---Dhores

The Good, The Bad, and The Pretty: V05 Conditioners

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm total hair fanatic. I love all hair types and every little detail about each type. When it comes to hair, I'm serious about whatever I'm putting on my head and what I recommend to people, and I have a review today about a set of conditioners I've been using for a very long time. Ever wandered into your local store's hair section and saw the extremely cheap little bottles of hair conditioner by some obscure company named V05? I'm sure you have, and you probably didn't give them a second glance either, but maybe my review can help you do a double take.

The Good:

There's a lot of good when it comes to this product. First of all, it will not put a dent in your pocket at all. It's extremely wallet-friendly checking in at a measly dollar or less depending on where you're getting your conditioner from. It comes in a variety of scents and collections, but from what I have observed the different collections (Moisture Milks, Herbal Escapes, Tea Therapy, etc) barely differ in formula and the results are the same. (This might not be the same case for you though, so make sure you pay attention to how your hair reacts to the different conditioners!)

My favorite conditioner from them is the Strawberries & Cream Moisture Milks because it smells like some sort of sweet delicious heaven. As for how well they work on hair, they're amazing. They moisturize and detangle my hair beautifully. It worked while I was relaxed and even now when I'm natural. Dhores uses the V05 conditioners as well, and I have two other friends who used them and love them whose hair is nothing like either of ours. (One of them is white and the other is Asian, so as you can see it works well with a great variety of hair types.)

The Bad:

Some may not like the consistency of this conditioner. It is very thin and sometimes you might have to be a bit heavy handed with it. I don't have a problem with the consistency but I figure it's worth mentioning. Other than that I think the product is stellar.

The Pretty:

I'm not sure what anyone would be waiting for when it comes to jumping on this bandwagon. It's so cheap, and super effective. If you don't like it? It didn't put a dent in your wallet, and hair conditioner doubles as a great shaving cream anyway. (I always just buy cheap conditioner instead nowadays since shaving cream is so costly.)

-Marissa

The Good, The Bad, and The Pretty: OCC Lip Tars

This is the first installment of our review series: The Good, The Bad, and The Pretty. Whilst Dhores and I were out and about at IMATS in NYC, I had the amazing opportunity to pick up one of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetic's Lip Tars. The hype about these has been known for awhile, but since I don't get to shop online often, this was my first opportunity to pick one up. They go for $13 dollars a piece usually, but since we were attending the make up show the prices were marked down and I received mine for $10 dollars.

The Good:

I am in love with this already and surely will be getting more. It is nothing short of pigmented. I purchased “Strumpet” which is described on their official website as a “seedless grape red”. It's a very pretty berry color, and extremely bold. I am nothing short of wowed by its color pay-off. My lips are pigmented. (When I say pigmented, I reaaallly mean it too!) If a color is really sheer, my lips just steal the show. It definitely lived up to the reputation of being super pigmented. Not only that, but a little goes an extremely long way. I used barely a drop for the entirety of my lips, and it's not like my lips are thin.

The Bad:

There's nothing truly bad about the product. It's somewhat drying, but not extremely. Put on some lip balm before applying and you're good to go.

The Pretty:

 my bare lips.

with strumpet on.

Sincere apologies for the awful lighting in both pictures, this is what I get for doing a review on a rainy day & resorting to using  two different artificial lights.

Overall: 

I would totally recommend picking up one (or a dozen) of these. I'm definitely going to get some more myself. For the amount of product you receive, the price is perfect, and there are literally all the colors of the rainbows. Not only that, but you can mix them and create your own! How can you go wrong?

You can purchase your own lip tar here.

--Marissa

IMATS NYC 2011

If you haven't heard, IMATS came to NYC last weekend for the first time, and it was absolutely amazing. Well, actually let's back up a little bit and explain what IMATS is. It's the International Make-Up Artist Trade Show. Many vendors come together to share their products and what not, there's demonstrations, a little make up artist history museum section, and so much more. It's really just a great experience for anyone who truly loves make up. I decided to invite Dhores as a birthday present, and we both headed on over to NYC for the day.

The first floor was full of make up artists and models. The artists were working their magic and the models looked fantastic. There was also that museum deal I was talking about. It was amazing seeing all these things that looked lifelike in shows and movies there in the flesh.(Well, the pseudo-flesh.) The power of make up is astounding, even I underestimate sometimes, but all of my expectations were exceeded upon arrival at IMATS. 

After carousing the first floor for a bit and checking out all they had to show, Dhores and I headed upstairs to see what we had been so excited to see the entire time: the vendors' floor. There were so many companies; it was exciting. In all honesty I purchased more brushes and actual tools than make up, but the make up selection was absolutely insane.

We went to look at every vendor, but I was trying to not be impulsive and get things I didn't come there to purchase. I got some brushes, an OCC lip tar, and a couple other things here and there like lashes and the works. Dhores purchased an Eve Pearl Foundation, brushes, a lip tar, eyeshadow, and a pair of lashes. Her foundation was the deal of the day since Dhores has very dark skin and finding foundation you are a black girl with darker skin is really a bitch. 

Another great thing about IMATS was the sense of community. For the most part all of the women there were sweethearts and very polite. The lines were crazy and outrageous and yet people were still willing to try and help each other. In particular Dhores and I met two women who were so nice to us and even let us snap a picture of them. They were two beautiful natural ladies, and oh my gosh.. their hair! I was so envious. When I asked one of them how long she had been natural she replied, “2 years, but I used to be like you.” It was comforting to know that other people went through the same experience I did when I just chopped off all my hair, but I digress.

If you didn't go to IMATS, you missed out, but I wouldn't fret. With the type of reception IMATS received in NYC, I'm certain they'll be coming back for more. When they do come back for more, Dhores and I will be there.

--Marissa

Adopt a Black Girl

Welcome, to adopt a black girl agency where we find black girls in need and try to guide them towards a life with healthy hair, decent makeup application, and overall confidence. Have you ever seen this girl wandering around your neighborhood: hair is damaged, makeup is questionable, and mind is simple? If you have, it's high time to take her under your wing because she’s a prime candidate for adopt a black girl agency.  

On a slightly more serious note, “adopt a black girl” is the idea that if you’re in a position to help a younger or simply more foolish girl about hair care, makeup, social issues, self esteem, the whole works: you should utilize the opportunity. I’m playing my part by taking on my younger neighbor Belandy who has gone through so many horrible hair stages I refuse to divulge all the info but recently since I found she was natural and repeatedly subjecting her hair to extreme heat damage I decided to step in as the older sister role of her life and do her hair. We have had a few bumps on the road but now things look like there are headed to a promising start.  

One of the few reasons I think adopting a black girl so important is that besides the obvious help you’re giving on an individual level, you're also educating young girls socially by showing the ways they are portrayed in the media are not the only options they have. So please go find the stife @$$ girl walking around the neighborhood with her thump in her mouth and say, “Baby, I can upgrade you.” 

-----Dhores

Trends I Love For Spring.

Hey guys, it's Marissa. Every year there's tons of trends, and quite frankly you either love or hate what's going on in fashion at any given moment. I really love some of the trends right now; other trends...not so much. But I'm not here to talk about the trends I hate, today it's all about what I love love love fashion wise this season.

First on my four-part list has definitely got to be...

Floral Prints

Nothing's girlier than a floral print. (Although lace and ruffles definitely put up a fight for the belt!) This season there's a lot of options for any girl who wants a little flower power in their wardrobe.  You can keep it cool with airy dresses and skirts, or have a nice blouse or top. I've even seen floral print all over shoes and even some denim. The options are literally endless. And wearing a floral print doesn't mean you have to look overly girly...or even worse...like your grandmother's sofa. You can add some edge with leather accessories and chunky bangles. The next trend on my list would also compliment the florals without making you look overly girly, but before I get to that here's a look i created to give an example:

H M top
Rue21, $22
Forever21 leather slouch boot, $43
Rue21 cross body bag, $25
H M bracelet
Forever21 metal earring, $2.80
H M collar necklace
Forever21 studded belt, $9.80

Military Inspired Clothing

Would you rather be cute or a badass? The real answer is you don't have to choose. With military inspired clothing pieces you can really have it all.  You can even play up either side of the spectrum. These pieces are extremely versatile and can be used to add some edge to something girly (think floral, lace, or ruffles) or just create a downright badass look. How you decide to do it is up to do, but whatever you do you can't really go wrong with cute pieces like these.

H M top
American Eagle Outfitters army cargo pants, $30
Report flat leather sandal, $126
Forever21 shoulder strap bag, $26
Forever21 beaded ring, $6.80
Forever21 filigree earring, $4.80
H M bracelet

 In this outfit I decided to go girly. Neutrals are great anywhere, but actually look amazing with military inspired clothing. The deep greens and sandy and tan tones just mesh together really well. What really makes this outfit girly are the eye catching pops of color in the accessories. I can see this being worn on a lunch date or somewhere where you need to be casual but still leave a nice lasting impression.

Crop Tops

Crop tops are definitely one of my new favorites this season.  They're definitely a love it or hate it type of piece. Revealing some stomach may be a bit uncomfortable for some people. (And uncomfortable to look at for ladies who aren't quite in shape. LOL.) However, this "big reveal" has definitely come in full force this spring/summer, and I am definitely loving it. My only real rule with these are try to be a little modest in whatever else you're wearing. When you reveal so much, what else is there left to see? Nothing. Hoochie =/= cutie. They're not even close. (They don't even rhyme for pete's sake.) So let's not confuse the two.

Daytrip cropped tank, $24
American Eagle Outfitters cropped jeans, $50
Rue21 wood heels, $27
Forever21 feather jewelry, $6.80
Forever21.com - Accessories - Jewelry - Bracelets - 1062097843, $9.80

Crochet & Macrame

The final trend I really like lately is the crochet & macrame trend. The intricate detailing of crochet is very beautiful in my humble opinion. I tried to learn to crochet once...that was a fruitless venture, to say the least. However thanks to mass produced clothes, I can get all the crochet I want without having to do it myself. And that, my friends, exactly what I intend to do.  

H M pink tank top
Rue21 crochet skirt, $22
Forever21 platform sandal, $25
Forever21 elastic bracelet, $8.80
Forever21 beaded jewelry, $7.80
Forever21 bracelet, $5.80
Forever21.com - New Arrivals - 1064786885, $3.80

That skirt looks like lace from far away, but if you look up close it's entirely crochet. Crochet tends to seem earthy so I tried to steer clear of pairing it with other hippie-esque 70's trends. I don't want to walk around looking like a flower child y'all. Instead I opted for bold turquoise and gold accessories and some understated flower-shaped studs.

Anyways, that wraps up the 4 trends I'm loving this season. What trends are catching your eye?

-Marissa

Word From The Wise: You Are Not That Cute.

I have a public service announcement to make. Many women have been deluded into believing some insane things that are simply impossible. As a disclaimer, I believe all women should be confident and love themselves. I think women should feel beautiful and secure in their relationships. However, sometimes, ladies, you are just not that cute.  Likewise, you are not that important and groundbreaking. 

Now I know you're looking at this now like, “Wha--? I'm freaking fabulous!” I'd be staring at my screen like that if I were you too. But alas, there is no woman in this entire world that is that cute. I guess you're wondering now what I mean by that cute, well let me give you a scenario: 

Girl meets boy. Boy is fine; if a scale of ten is a judge of his appearance homeboy's a twenty. Girl finds out boy has a past of lying and cheating. Boy has a past of just being a bad guy in general. He has that hot bad boy charm. Girl makes the tragic mistake of thinking she is the one who can change him.   

You. Are. Not. That. Cute.   

I can promise you ladies, there were girls before you who tried to change this man, and probably going to girls after you. Why waste your time? People don't change unless they want to. This is a fact. Change isn't something that can be forced, only embraced.  If he's not with it, then why are you wasting your time with this loser? 

So many girls stress themselves out because they think that they would be the female version of a knight in shining arm for many men. More than 90% of the time, they fail at this. You have to ask yourself, what makes you different than his past girls? In essence, if the boy's bad, what he's found in you he can find in any girl. And he probably will find this in you, and other girls behind your back. Why? Because to him: you are not that cute and you are not that groundbreaking. 

He's right, you aren't. There's probably several girls very similar to you, but here's where I'm going to flip things. Just because you're not that cute, doesn't mean you shouldn't treat yourself like you're the cutest, flyest, and most groundbreaking boss bitch out there. Don't settle for someone who doesn't see things like that. You need a man who either has always had his ish in check, or has already found the means to get it together and is actively doing so. Women are queens, and thus need kings. So bitch why are you walking around with a court jester? 

Think about it. 

--Marissa