I'm On The O2B2 WEBSITE!!!

Hey Blossoms,

I'm excited to announce my video reel of EnkoreMakeup & Pursebuzz makeup class is featured on the main page of their website!!!

How exciting!!!

Check out the webpage and my clip! I am so honored!

MY VIDEO

IS FEATURED ON THEIR SITE:

ENKOREMAKEUP & PURSEBUZZ O2B2 TOUR

Have you attended an O2B2 class?

Until Next Time,

Later Blossoms!

Read more »

A NATURAL HAIR MUST HAVE!!!!! ORS OLIVE OIL EDGE CONTROL!!!

Hey Blossoms,

One of my biggest hair battles has always been with my edges. As in most people your edges are the finest and shortest area of your head, prone to the most tension from different hairstyles, product buildup from hair products AND makeup, and even a build up of sebum from sweating. Basically, your hairline and edges take a beating and it can definitely be the most difficult to overcome in any hair journey ESPECIALLY a natural hair journey.

My hair is coily...very coily..and shrinks up to 85% of its actual length!!!! WOW!!! Don't believe me check out my recent Youtube video on my 1 month natural hair update  HERE where I stretch my hair out and show you what shrinkage really is! So imagine what the hairline around my edges does! It curls into these individual little coily "circles" and it REFUSES to lay flat! When I first went natural I chucked having tamed edges up to just being a total lost cause. Imagine my sheer surprise and HAPPINESS when I discovered this product.

Now I tried this product BEFORE going natural when I wore weaves but it didn't work that well. So I chucked it in the garbage and didn't think twice about it. When I tried it again natural it made ALL THE DIFFERENCE! Without further wait that holy grail edge control product is.....

ORGANIC ROOT STIMULATOR OLIVE OIL EDGE CONTROL



Now I'm sure many of you have heard of this product before but have you SEEN the wonders it works? NO! Well I'm here to show you.

I also included a link where you can purchase your own. This retails for about 6-7 dollars in many beauty supply stores. So at $4.69 your definitely saving!!

The key ingredients are: Water, Olive Oil, Aloe vera, Wheat protein, Glycerin, Castor Oil, (it has a slight fragrance so you do not have to fret your hair WILL smell good!)

It's texture is very light weight and its neither greasy or sticky and it does NOT harden when it dries.


Here's a picture of my hair when I first went natural. Notice how my edges are coiled up and gives the illusion of being dry but actually my hair is well moisturized and very soft here.

My hair along my edges and nape of my neck are the areas of my head I'm working diligently on to aid in its growth. Being that I always had my hair covered or permed (which is a temporary fix for loss of edges because with the coils straightened it gives the illusion that the edges are longer than what they really are) I didn't care how my edges and nape looked. Now that I'm natural I wish I took better care of my hair OVERALL (I'm sure many naturals have this feeling from time to time too!)

Now here is a photo of my edges and nape after using ORS Olive Oil Edge Control. The above pictures were taken the first day I went natural 3/20/11. These pictures below were taken after I BC (Big Chopped: I went from 6 inches of hair to 3 inches!) and I HAD to use something to help make my puff look more presentable. I bought another ORS Olive Oil Edge Control and after my hair air dried I placed it on the edges and nape and smoothed it in and these were the results....

WOW!!! Super smooth! To avoid a shellac' look (think of a cowlick or super slicked back) I place the product at the tips of my fingers and smooth it out to a thinner consistency up to the middle of my finger-beds. This allows for the product to be applied evenly giving a smoother look and evenly distributed shine. Another bonus of this product is it definitely bought out my wave pattern!

I would not recommend this product to be used for wash and go's because it is way too thick to be used all the hair, just use it along your hairline, nape and edges. Also use this product in moderation a little goes a long way.

Another trick is when you smooth the product along your edges take a soft bristle brush and brush your edges and nape lightly and place a silk wrap around your head. This will help your hair stay flat as the product dries (which takes a few minutes if you use a little so don't overdo it!).

This product is DEFINITELY Sherry Blossom Approved! I noticed that at my local beauty supply store these sell out quick so I always buy 2 at a time. I use this almost every day and it's become a staple in my natural hair care arsenal! I may go a day without it if my hair stay wrapped properly but I ALWAYS mess my hair up in my sleep so those rare days are few and far in between.


CONS: 
This product can be hard to find! Don't be surprised if you have to go to a few stores before you hit the jackpot and cross your fingers that when you do the price won't be trumped up due to it's rare availability! (Remember I've included a link above for you where it can be shipped to you! No hassle!)

This product does have many great natural ingredients in it but with continuous uses without washing there can be slight build up. So if you use it throughout the week be sure to co-wash or shampoo.

If you use this product frequently the small jar of product will be done QUICKLY. I wish they came up with an economy size! I also wish they had a small travel size jar that can fit in a backpack or purse without taking up to much space for when you need those quick touch ups!

HEY ORGANIC ROOT I HOPE YOUR LISTENING!!!!!

Have you ever tried ORS Edge control? What product(s) would you say are similar? 

BLOSSOMS PLEASE COMMENT! THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE BLOG AND I DO WRITE BACK!!! DONT BE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP!!! IM LISTENING!!!

Until Next Time,

Later Blossoms!

Read more »

MAKE YOUR LASHES LOOK LIKE FALSIES WITH WET & WILD CLINICAL MASCARA

Hey Blossoms,

Your eyes are the gateway to your soul! Yes that's deep! On a lighter note we want our eyes to look alluring and intense and we'll do anything to achieve that. Mascara is a necessity in many women lives. It gives our eye lashes that oomph it needs to set us on our way to a "va-va voom" look. Translation: We want a mascara that makes our lashes look as if we are wearing false eyelashes (falsies) even when we aren't. I've found a mascara that does JUST that!!!

Wet & Wild Mega Lash Clinical Mascara

Here's what it claims:

• 87% of women say they have visibly fuller, thicker and longer lashes upon application
• It's custom designed brush lengthens and defines without clumps
• contains Moroccan Argan oil that conditions, nourishes and adds shine to your lashes
• contains Vitamin E,C, and B-complex, Soy Protein & Arginine to help stimulate stronger lashes
• Ophthalmologist tested
• Safe for contact lens wearers
• Wiper helps to deliver ideal amount of formula to every bristle

Here's the packaging:

Let's break down all that it claims and I'll let you make the final decision on this mascara (I KNOW but YOU have to find out!)

87% of women say they have visibly fuller, thicker and longer lashes upon application

I guess I'm lucky enough to be able to be apart of that 87%!!!! One application and my eyelashes INSTANTLY LOOKED fuller, thicker (DEFINITELY!) & longer! 

BEFORE 

AFTER

Next claim: It's custom designed brush lengthens and defines without clumps

I'm wearing the mascara below put your magnifying glasses on for this so you can truly be convinced because there are NO clumps!!!!

Next few claims:

• contains Moroccan Argan oil that conditions, nourishes and adds shine to your lashes
• contains Vitamin E,C, and B-complex, Soy Protein & Arginine to help stimulate stronger lashes
• Ophthalmologist tested
• Safe for contact lens wearers

Unfortunately these are claims I can not prove through pictures. I can say that this mascara is super smooth, glides on and does NOT dry down to a hard brittle matte finish. I've touched my lashes while this mascara was still on and although the mascara does dry (not to a hardened dry finish though) my lashes STILL felt soft and flexible and has an intense black look (my lashes don't look dry and thirsty!). I also loved the perfect curl this mascara gave my lashes! This mascara is NOT water-proof but it glides off seamlessly with a makeup wipe, water and/or makeup remover. You don't have to worry about getting raccoon eyes, sore lids/eye area from scrubbing or your lashes breaking off with this mascara. I'm always amazed at how easy this mascara is removed . Sometimes my left eye gets teary and my mascara runs into it and that can BURN but with this mascara I didn't feel any stinging. (I STILL DO NOT recommend getting this mascara into your eye so BE CAREFUL!) Overall I think these claims weren't too far fetched. Although not as instantly noticeable as the first 2 claims these claims held up to their end of the bargain and I was beyond satisfied. 

Last (but certainly not least) claim: Wiper helps to deliver ideal amount of formula to every bristle

Overall, this mascara is worth trying and INEXPENSIVE TOO!!! Highly recommended! SHERRY BLOSSOM APPROVED! 

BUT nothing is PERFECT!!

Cons

The wiper can become loosened and start to come out as you pull the wand out but it can be held down while pulling the wand out. Be sure to hold the wiper down if  it loosens and pull the wand out slowly or else too much mascara will come out onto the wand. This is minor and can be wiped off by gliding the side of the mascara wand  with the excess product along the top of the tube of mascara and wiping off anything that may not go into the tube (if you own it personally) for MUAs (wipe the excess into a makeup remover and clean the top with it too.. do NOT put the mascara back in the TUBE!)

Be careful not to dunk the wand all the way in and pull it out quickly. Otherwise you may get a glob of mascara to come out the top and then the end of the mascara tube starts to get messy all the extra mascara that comes out when the wand is removed. This is minor and can be wiped off. 

Here's more photos of HOW this mascara TRANSFORMED my lashes!

Can you tell which eyelash has mascara and which doesn't?

MY LASHES LOOK LIKE FALSIES...THANKS TO WET & WILD CLINICAL MASCARA...MY NEW LOVE!

So all I want to know Blossoms is: When are you purchasing yours????!!!!!!!!

You can find Wet & Wild everywhere, but Kmart has coupons HERE

Until Next Time,

Later Blossoms!

Read more »

MAC PRO LONG WEAR FOUNDATION NW45 & WHY ITS NOT FOR ME!!

a

Hey Blossoms,

I know many of you are familiar with MAC. Some of you even use their products exclusively siteing MAC as your HOLY GRAIL of all thing cosmetics. While I agree many of their products rock there is ONE product in particular I've had a recent run in with that DOES NOT ROCK not one iota!!!

 This product is their MAC Pro Longwear SPF 10 Foundation in NW45. Pictured here is color NC20.

I just could not make this color(NW45 not the color shown above) work for me. Granted I only wore it all of 12 hours it just did NOT work for me as far as color matching. The undertone was way to red and I looked like a matte tomato topped with orange sauce(after the foundation oxidized). Now it IS LONG LASTING...I was slightly shiny after 12 hours of wear and only blotted 3 times during. The matte finish remained the entire way through but I felt the matte look was way to unnatural. It would have been best to wear it along my t-zone, wearing it all over the face just made me look as if I were wearing a mask.

As a woman of color I already have a difficult time finding foundations that match my sin tone. Like many woman of color, I am lighter at the center of my face and darker along the perimeter so sometimes (ok ALWAYS) it's necessary for me to mix at least 2 different foundation colors.

I steer clear of all of MACs other foundations due to reviews of the oily, greasy mess it leaves you with. I've tried them numerous times and I always end up regretting I ever did. Now please don't misunderstand me! MAC is a GREAT company and they offer some fabulous products. I'm STILL a proud Pro Card carrying member and I love their eyeshadows, paint pots, fluidlines and fix + spray!!! That's just to name a few. Unfortunately, their foundations NEVER work for me.

I make it a habit to try everything on myself first and depending on my experience will determine if it makes the grade and graduates to my kit. Its really hard to dislike a product, have a bad experience with it (continuously) and STILL decide to add it to your kit. It almost NEVER happens! MAC Pro Long wear foundation was no exception! I do LOVE MAC Pro longwear concealers! A review on those will be coming up soon.

Check out the video above for a more in depth review and to see this foundation on my skin!!!

Read more »

EXTRA! EXTRA! :INGLOT COSMETICS

Hey blossoms,

As much as I tried to avoid it I couldn't. So February 7th 2010 marks the day Inglot will raise their prices a huge bounding leap! I don't quite understand as no statements have been released as to why? So I'm truly perplexed as I write this on a train barreling through the tunnels of NYC as I head to the flagship store. I'll see what they say when I arrive!

I can't deny that Inglot's products are amazing, especially their eyeshadows. As of right now, before I'm overcome with sheer ecstasy (think:kid in a candy store) I have my mind on trying more eyeshadows, more specifically matte colors, gel liners and maybe concealer and pigments. Let's see what I actually leave with when I'm done demolishing the store(and sadly bank account)

The very first time I stepped into Inglot I was amazed at the sheer color range in every product whether it was eyeshadows, lipglosses, pigments or nail lacquers( I'll start to get into those soon so stay tuned for that).

What further made me smile (ok salivate but who's asking anyway) was the freedom palette system which basically is a system where you grab a palette (3, 5, or 10 slots) and fill it up with whatever you want for ONE fixed price regardless if you mix and match as long as it fits into the palette! 

It's also no funny business. Very simple! Eyeshadows are either matte, pearl finish, shimmer or high shimmer. Foundations are in range from lightest to darkest no cool/warm knowledge necessary! Pigments pigments pigments galore. The colors are AMAZINGLYYYY pigmented and so so so (yes 3 so's worth) pretty! Ok that IS an opinion but a true one ;)

The guy who helped me the last time I was there was awesome! I cant remeber his name but hopefully I see him there. Inglot takes customer service to the TOP! They answer every question, no matter how many times you ask (I tested it out just for you all. Although I was nicknamed "Question" by coworkers at our training academy class but I digress.) At Inglot they are informative and definitely not pushy. Let's be honest. This products sells ITSELF!

So this time I'll do my best to take pictures! I can't wait. This train needs to move faster. I have Inglot to buy! Lol! I'll update from here soon!

AFTER ARRIVING AT INGLOT 

Ok so when I first made it to the front door. I was 30mins early and was told the store opened at 10:00am. I had a quick breakfast and came back only to hear that I had to come back in another 30 mins because something in the ceiling was being fixed. I was a little disappointed because I was overly eager to begin playing in everything AND it was COLD! Please don't turn me away! Sad face and all I walked over to Forever 21, which just disappointed me more with all their tank tops, midriffs and shorts! Uh hello is -0 out there what if I need something super warm right now! Aargh! After wondering around the store aimlessly for 40mins exactly. I didn't want to be turned away again so the extra 10 minutes was necessary .


 I walked back to Inglot for a THIRD time and pushed the door open and lo and behold I was here! And the ONLY ONE in the store might I add! I was greeted by a makeup artist who I later found out was Ann, who was super nice and helpful. She swatched colors with me, explained more about the different textures of the eye shadow and even had makeup wipes ready everytime I ran out of space on the back of my hands. I brought my older palettes with me and she went over every shadow to make sure the newer ones I picked weren't dupes of what I already had! Thank goodness she was there. Every shadow I picked up she'd say "You have this one already but how about you try this one." I can say she recommended every eyeshadow in my new palette and I love them! Some great highlight colors in there also! She also taught me a neat trick with one of the eyeshadows! She was beyond awesome and I appreciated it so much!

So what did I buy?!! I bought another 10 pan freedom palette, 2 gel waterproof liners and a 3 pan palette with 2 brow powders and 1 nude lipstick(yes I know so random I did have a concealer but switched it at the last minute) when I say these products are amazing. They ARE amazing! Ann introduced me to a few other products too that I had accidentally overlooked the last time I was there! I can't wait to buy more Inglot products! #TeamInglot all the way.

Another makeup artist came in and I recognized her from my last visit and found out her name is Melissa. She was super cool also! Something about seeing another tall woman like myself that instantly makes them cool! #teamtallgirl :)

I started to ask her questions about the sudden raise in price and she expressed that everyone was just as perplexed and the exact reason is still unknown to them. She did mention that she heard it could be due to something happening in Europe, she was a little vague and unsure of the source or any truth in that. The phone rang constantly! Customers calling to inquire if the "price increase rumor" was true and other questions. Melissa even confessed that she too was a little disappointed in the price increase and actually had a list jotted down of products she'll pick up before the price increase. WOW! You know it's serious when the makeup artists at the counter are stocking up. Ann mentioned how crazy it's been with everyone requesting Inglot like it literally came out of no where and overnight.  I told them they could thank YouTube and Makeup Guru's for that as well as the quality of the products! Ann seemed proud of Inglot's hot rise. I would be too!

Insider's tip: INGLOT usually sells out the first day at IMATS/the MakeupShow so get there early and buy on the FIRST day or you'll be placing eyeshadows in blush palettes. Lol j/k (maybe)

I asked f I could take photos around the store for my blog and they didn't hesitate and said sure. Ann even asked me for my blog site. I gave her my business card. She expressed interest in getting a whole bunch of bloggers over to have a meet and greet. And a fly on the wall mentioned this could be at a NEW STORE IN NEW YORK! Yes you've heard it FIRST here another INGLOT flagship POSSIBLY PRO STORE(20 or 30 pan palettes and a WIDER array of colors and I'm momentarily thinking: even MORE colors I'm sincerely impressed now.)


I also found out the male makeup artist who helped me the last time I was there is named Andrew. Here's what I blogged after that visit...

Went into Inglot NY and it was an amazing experience! The male makeup artist on the floor was soo helpful. Every question I asked he had a detailed answer, explained in laymens terms and such a kind demeanor overall. No pushy sales, unsolicited advice or rushing. One of the best experiences I've ever had in a makeup store or at a counter.

Now to the good stuff! The eyeshadows! Raved about across the Internet I haven't found ONE negative review! The list of pros are endless for me:

Highly pigmented

INEXPENSIVE! (1/3 the price of MAC shadows!)

Huge amount 2.7g!

Four different finishes

Come in singles, square or circle for the palette

Can be placed in an amazing magnetized palette!

Wide array of color choices

Inglot offers soo much: nail lacquer, concealer, liquid foundation, powder foundation, pigments, lip/eye liners, lip gloss, lip sticks, paint pots/gel liner pots, mixing mediums, brushes, bags, train cases, AND MORE!

I wanted to step outside the MAC /MUFE realm and this cosmetic line did NOT disappoint!

So that's how I felt after my last visit. Below I'll show photos of the products I looked at from this recent visit I took a boatload of photos for you all. Check out all the goodies...

A peek inside the INGLOT NYC flagship store

Huge selection of foundations in many different forms
WOC friendly!!!

Freedom System

Eyelashes

Glitters

Pigments! Pigments!

Waterproof gel liners

Pro Artist brush roll 32 pieces available in synthetic or natural hairs

Makeover area/Test Area

Nail Lacquers galore!

Body bronzers

Freedom System

Single eyeshadows, eyeshadow pencils, lip liners

R to L: Concealer sticks, Sheer liquid foundation, mineral foundation

Skin Illuminators (must go back for some I love them!)

Stick Foundation (being phased out for a new release with a different formulation)

Pro artist traincase

Cream and powder blushes(they also have liquid blush)

**NOT  PICTURED: Lipsticks, lipglosses, lipstick pots, lip crayons!! So SORRY blossoms I didn't realize I skipped over that area! The selection is as wide as the nail lacquers so its definitely a MUST SEE so sorry I'll be sure to photograph it next time I'm there! Scouts honor :)

SNEAK PEEK INTO SOME OF MY INGLOT COLLECTION

R to L: Nude lipstick(looks redder in photo), med brown, dark brown brow powder

Teal and Midnight blue waterproof gel liners

Great neutral colors and see the pigmentation! Amazing!

My newest palette..these colors will rock in the summer!

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed! Inglot Cosmetics are SHERRY BLOSSOM APPROVED!


I have many youtube tutorials using their products check out those tutorials here SHERRY BLOSSOM BEAUTY CHANNEL


Until Next Time,


Later Blossoms!

Read more »