Black Radiance Week! A #prettypout review

The next brand we chose to celebrate for #prettypout was Black Radiance.  Below is my Instagram recap:

While I enjoyed the shade offerings of the line I was not too pleased with the wear of the Perfect Tone lipsticks.  I would say that these are more of a hydrating product HOWEVER, I have tried other brands that describe their lipstick as hydrating but they still lasted.  I would snap these pics and not even an hour later feel like I needed to touch up the color.  Mind you that was before having a beverage or a bite. 

I feel like Black Radiance is on the right path but may need to work on the formulation a little bit.  As you can see I only did 3 days of this challenge and honestly it was because I was feeling so so about the wear of the the product. So much so that I didnt want to purchase anything else from the line.

Have you tried Black Radiance lipstick or any of their other product offerings?  What did you think?

Wet n Wild Week! A #prettypout review

So as you all should know by now I am a member of the Partners in Pretty group.  If you want to know more about us watch this video:




Each week we challenge ourselves to explore a particular brand and the lip products offered and we call it the #prettypout challenge.  It has helped us to revisit lipstick, lipgloss, etc that we may own but have forgotten about and also get to know a brand that we may not be familiar with.  Other beauty babes have joined in the tag and the brands we feature have taken notice as well.  I love the tag because it also shows that women of any shade can wear any color.

While we have been showing the varied colors and products I realize that you may also want to know how I feel about a certain brand or product that has been featured so I am going to do a recap each week here on the blog.

This post is dedicated to our Wet n Wild week celebration!

The Partners in Pretty Wet n Wild Week Instagram Wrap Up

I really enjoyed this week.  If you recall I dedicated a couple of videos to my love affair with the new and improved Wet n Wild lip products; but if you missed it check below:




 I really dont have anything bad to say about this line.  The price point is good, the color selections are modern and on trend and the pigmentation is amazing.  The only downside(s) are now that we have all discovered the greatness of the brand, these lipsticks are hard to come by.  There have been many times when I pop into a drugstore in search of them and the display has been picked completely over.  I am still on the hunt for 24 karat and some other colors but I digress.  Another pet peeve that some have expressed is that they are a bit drying to the lip.  I have been into mattes lately so that doesnt really bother me.

Below is my recap via IG of the Wet n Wild Week #prettypout challenge:

Wet n Wild actually chose this image to feature on their own Instagram page!  I was honored!

Keep up with and/or join the #prettypout challenge via Instagram with the @partnersinpretty.  Dont forget to use the hashtags!

NARS 413 BLKR

Outside the store

A Few of Francois Nars' favorite things - all for sale aside from a piece of coral and a statue that came right from his home

one side of the store display - do you recognize anyone in this pic?  Its none other than Kia of Yummy 411!

Tote bags that were given to us BEFORE we even made a purchase!

The goods - I only purchased 2 of these items, the rest were samples!

The Samples - eyeshadow crayon, primer, and moisturizer

The Purchases - Dragon Girl lip crayon and Jungle Red lip pencil

Swatches - eyeshadow crayon, dragon girl and jungle red

Another swatch (top to bottom) - eyeshadow crayon, dragon girl lip crayon, jungle red lip pencil

I am choosing to detail my weekend excursion to NY out of chronological order because I am eager to let you know how much customer service can make or break an experience.

Before heading to midtown to board the bus back home we stopped off in Soho to visit the new NARS boutique. I believe its only been open for a week, and understandably so this means they are still working out some of the kinks. For instance I inquired about using my pro discount in the store and unfortunately because the boutique is the first of its kind, the discount is still only applicable online. So yall know me, I resolved right then and there that I would swatch and make a list for purchasing later WITH discount. Well...famous last words because the customer service in that place is impeccable.

First and foremost, as evident by the images the space has a minimalist aesthetic. Though all products are on display beckoning to be swatched and tested they are presented in a way that isnt overwhelming. Upon entering I fully expected to be met with the Manhattan once-over (sorry, i am heavy into Confessions of a Shopaholic at the moment) and instead received a warm welcome, luggage and all. Cindy and Miguel cracked jokes with us, divulged a few insider secrets and overall made us want to stay much longer than we did.

Cindy is the epitome of New York style. Rocking an all black ensemble with a Louboutin to boot (no pun intended) and topped off with the sickest lip combo (schiap lipstick with jungle red liner) she was our willing and fully capable guide. She didnt push us to purchase, but was instead very knowledgeable, not just about her brand either. Long story short we each walked out of there with a purchase and not an ounce of buyers remorse. I fully intend to go back-discount or not and i suggest if you are visiting NY soon that you add 413 Bleecker Street to your list of must see spots.

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Diary of a Beauty Blogger: I missed the bus

...and that is something i would never ever ever do again!

All things considered Ive no one to blame but myself. In my defense however i started out with the very best of intentions...eat dinner with the family, chill out a bit, take a shower THEN start packing and prepping for my trip. The trouble with my plan however is i dont fare well with last minute preparations, i know this about myself for a fact. So common sense shouldve kicked in at some point to say, Shana, why not get your things together earlier in the week? Well you know what they say about hindsight...

Not only did i need to pack, but also wash clothes, wash my hair, twist my hair, and do a mani/pedi and i didnt start these endeavors until after 10p. I didnt finish until after 1a.

Still amped about the trip I then couldnt sleep so lets say i got about 2 hrs max but i did still manage to wake up at 4a as planned...then i fell back asleep and woke at 4:45a. I needed to be at Nikkia's by 6a, a good 40 mins away. Instead of me rushing to get out the door as i should have I then began to second guess my late night packing job. Before i knew it the clock said 5:31a and it wasnt until then that i kicked into high gear.

Well as you see by the title all my pedal to the medal was in vain because Nikkia and I missed the bus all because of me. Kia made it on time and is probably in dreamland as I hang on the edge of my seat, on a bus that left 30 minutes later thankfully due to Nikkia's charm, next to a guy determined to somehow, in my mind at least, make me pay for being late by not sharing the seat properly.

But at least my nails are done I guess...Finger Paints Blank Canvas Cream and Deborah Lippman Some Enchanted Evening.

Stay tuned for more of the adventure!

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Diary of a beauty blogger: Road Trippin!

NYFW is well underway and while this time i will not be attending any shows i am making my way to New York with Kia (yummy411.blogspot.com) and Nikkia (silverlipsbeauty.com) to attend Cocktails and Couture (www.cocktailsandcouture.net)

A networking event for beauty and fashion bloggers, this is going to be an amazing experience. Some of the top beauty brands will be represented at this tweetup hosted and created by the digital media dynamo Lianne Farbes (www.liannefarbes.com). I am really looking forward to visiting my birthplace again. Its been quite some time since i was there last...

I am no longer #teamblackberry and oficially #teamdroid now so i will be doing my best to blog along the way with my new fancy Tmobile G2. I cant think of a better way to break the device in.

I will try to get some lip looks in as well...i didnt forget, i promise. See you guys soon!

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