Review Alert: Smashbox BB Cream and Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder

I have been using the Smashbox Try It Kit  which includes a travel size BB Cream, a travel size Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder, and a deluxe same of the Photo Finish Foundation Primer. It also comes with a Baby Buki Brush.

I must say I am thoroughly happy with all of the products in this try it kit. I have purchased try it kits in the past from other brands and only liked a product or two of those brands, but I love all three products in this kit. So, this was my makeup of the day:

On they eyes from theBalm Nude Tude palette:

Stand-offish for the highlight

Seductive on the lid and crease

Sophisticated in the crease

Serious on the outer V

BH Cosmetics liquid eyeliner pen for the cat eye

Cover Girl flamed out mascara in very black blaze

On the lips:

NYX lipstick in Tea

NYX lip liner in Cocoa

On the face: well, the Smashbox primer, BB Cream in dark, and the Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder in dark.

All together now!!!

I love it!! My favorite face routine ever! Now to perfect my brows!!

Best wishes,

Johannah 

Review Alert: Vinted.com

I have become what I call a frugal fashionista! I have some major changes to make in my life and one of those changes is financial! With that said, I have found yet another website that caters to the thrifting type platform! A few months ago, I wrote a post about Threadflip.com. This new site is vinted.com and I love it! Most items I have found are new items like these earrings and this sports bra that says "reckless." 

Everything was priced very well! For the earrings, I receive them as a bundle. Plus, the seller gave me a buy three get one free deal! 

The bra was a good deal too! I have a few more items coming but they are not here yet!

I still check the app frequently. I also love that l get notifications from the members I follow when they upload new items! It is an all around wondeful place to shop! Have fun and get vinted!!!

Best wishes,

Johannah

Mini Birthday Makeup Haul!!

Today was my 31st Birthday along with one of my new friends, with whom I enjoyed spending the day with at the local mall! Of course you know what going to the mall means: Mini Makeup Haul!!!

Of course I had my makeup done (I did my own) but because I was uber busy today, I did not have time to take a birthday selfie! Boo! But, I did take pics of my wonderful mini makeup haul! I will say this, my haul was purchased with gift cards so I did not spend my own $$$$ for once! It's nice to get gifts for myself! So let's start with my first stop.

1. Ulta

I purchased the NYX Xtreme lip cream in skin tone, Cover Girl flamed out mascara, and a CK mascara. The CK was the free gift for my birthday and its full size!! Wow!

2. Macy's MAC counter

This is the Cremesheen Glass in No Apologies! This was only part one of my two part purchase. They did not have the Prep and Prime BB cream in my tone. It's being shipped to me! 

3. Sephora

Free gift for my birthday! This is, as you all can read, from Make Up Forever.

4. Victoria's Secret

VS Ultimate Spa Party Kit and body wash with matching body butter. The semi annual sale is going on now at Victoria's Secret.

5. Bath & Body Works

Three mini body washes (country chic, japanese cherry blossom, and pink chiffon) one mini lotion (white citrus)! The semi annual sale is going on now! These were 75% off! 

Overall, I am happy with my mini haul purchases but my friend really hooked herself up today! I look forward to breaking into all my new stuff!

Best wishes,

Johannah

Review Alert: Puffs To-Go-Packs

If you're like me, during winter season, you use a lot of tissue! I am not a big fan of a lot of tissue brands but I have always loved the Puffs brand! This tissues are super soft and soothing for my nose. My nose gets incredibly dry this time of year and Puffs is my lifesaver!! 

Taking this little pack with me saves me so much time and it also helps me not use paper towels, which can be really harsh and abrasive to your skin! So, pick up a Puffs To-Go-Pack today! 

*I received my Puffs To-Go-Pack complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes! 

Naptural Hair Arsenal: Road to becoming a Hair Product Junkie

I never thought I'd become a hair product junkie or an HPJ for short! But alas, I am! I have read a number of natural hair care blogs and have seen a good chunk of YouTube natural hair mavens and truth be told, as a Naptural, one may have to try a plethora of products before finding a combination that may work!

What's in my arsenal? Have a look for yourself:

Brushes and combs! A spray bottle for water! Gel! Jam! Grease! African Shea butter! Cantu Shea butter leave in! A leave in by Garnier Fructis! Oil sheen! There are a few more products I would love to add to my arsenal but my local beauty supply store I frequent does not carry what I want, such as, pure castor oil, vegetable glycerin, and pure coconut oil! 

One thing I have noticed as a Naptural is the number of other women who have joined the force, for whatever reason! Mine! I had a rather large section of my hair break off and I couldn't cover it up anymore! I didn't want braids or a weave. I just wanted it gone and I never looked back! My only regret, not doing it sooner! 

Another thing, my local beauty supply store (oh, just one of a few but I frequent this shop) gave me some samples for my hair! She told me, "I seen that you went natural! I have some samples I'm going to put in your bag for you!" That made me smile! Those extra things made my day!!

So to all my naturals (straight naturals, curly naturals, kinky naturals, coily naturals, and transitioning):

Peace, Love, and Naptural Baby!!!

Johannah

Review Alert: FreeJewelry.com

Who doesn't like jewelry? I love jewelry! Better still, free jewelry! That's right y'all! You heard me, free jewelry! So, right after Christmas, I was reading a Nook book called, Who Knew? Beauty on a Budget by Bruce Lubin and Jeanne Bossolina-Lubin. This interesting trinket of knowledge gave me so much insight on the little things I could be doing at home to save money on makeup, fashion, and laundering my garments! The most interesting tidbit of information shares was the following website: http://www.freejewelry.com/

Photo courtesy of http://www.freejewelry.com/

So of course I had to check it out! most items are free with no catch! no tricks! no gimmicks! All you pay is $6.99 shipping per piece of jewelry you purchase! Now, i know what you are thinking! The shipping costs can add up! True! But in my humble and honest opinion, could this be a bad thing? It's about setting limitations! I, myself, only purchased two items! My trick was to find a set, which means, an earring and necklace set! It's like getting two for one! So here is what I purchased:

 

I like what I chose but I don't know about quality yet! I'll show them off soon!

Warm regards,

Johannah

Natural Hair Journey

I have now been on my natural hair journey for just over a year! Many call this change a Naptural hair journey! 

Either way you call it, coin it, or term it, I have vowed to never return to relaxers! I have not even had my hair pressed and/or curled! I am almost ready to see how long it is but I have enjoyed ever step of the journey, from the teeny weeny Afro or TWA to the hard to tame naps to my now almost understood hair! 

I have learned quite a bit so far! The one thing I have learned over the course of this journey is that I had to learn my texture or textures as other professional naturals explain! I also learned, YouTube is my friend, water is the best moisturizer, and leave in conditioner is a must! I learned to always wear my satin bonnet to bed and to always use a wide toothed comb to detangle! 

There are so many wonderful, beautiful naturals out there, most of whom I have followed on Instagram, Facebook, and of course YouTube! I've mastered my Afro, my medium top fade, the faux fro hawk, the medium fro hawk, and now, I am giving the two strand twist Bantu knot out a try! 

This is how I set my hair to prepare for my knot out the following morning!

I used a spray bottle of water, Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shibe leave in conditioning cream, and Softer Mango Butter. 

And this is how it came out this morning:

I have to say, I have a lot of work and more learning to do, but I'm happy to admit that I am a work in progress!!

Always as forever,

Johannah