La Editor’s Smell Good of the Moment: Emporio Armani Diamonds

It’s been a minute since I’ve been on the market for some new smell good …and baybay…I’ve found more than gold…I’ve found Diamonds! Armani Diamonds that is.

This is the second time this year that Armani has won me over. Sure I’ve seen the ads, but I can’t lie…I was trying to stay loyal to my regimen of Versace Red or Yellow Jeans on a daily basis and Armani Code for special occasions.  Since I was running low on everything, I hesitantly made my way to the local fragrance counter.

I’d like to say that the lady at the counter gave me great advice, but after sniffing one fragrance that smelled like an overpriced hot mess and another that was sickeningly sweet, I almost lost hope and prepared to purchase yet another bottle of Armani Code aka Hot Sex on a Platter.  As I made one last trek around the counter the bottle caught my eye. Intrigued I politely said, "…what scent is this." The sales associate made her way swiftly over to me and said, "Oh I love Emporio Armani Diamonds!"

Wanting to see if the fragrance would blend with well with my PH, I went in for the kill. Yall, it was LOVE AT FIRST SPRITZ. I am picky about scent and rarely do I fall in love with something after the first squirt, but when I say…it was a swift battle and Armani Diamonds won! Straight TKO.

The smell is so sensual…light…a bit fruity….with the right amount of floral twist. While Armani Code made me feel sexy…Armani Diamonds made me ready to seduce someone. A random lady at the counter asked to sniff my wrist and and said, "Damn girl, that smells good!" My sentiments exactly.

The smell is a lasting once and only gets better as it mixes with your body heat.  Check Emporio Armani Diamonds out ladies…because of course you know…Diamonds will forever and always be…a girl’s best friend.

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La Editor’s Favorite Natural Hair Product of the Month:

Ms. Jessie’s Curly Meringue: I am obsessed with this stuff. Seriously. While most people turn to Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding for the stretch they seek for their kinks and curls…as sista has found the “boing” she craves in this cream. Add a fabulous smell and a the fact that a little goes a long way…and you’ve got, “the greatest curl creme on earth…” Miss Jessie’s Curly Meringue is available on the Miss Jessie’s Website

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I don’t know anyone else, but the day I finally cut my permed ends off, I felt like I’d freed my hair from a chemical dependency. I also felt like I’d joined a members-only organization for sistas that embrace their kinks and their curls.

It’s actually quite beautiful, the way that afrodities connect with one another. Women that would typically walk by each other under any other circumstances, stop to discuss the thing that they most have in common…the mane situated as a crown on top of their beautiful heads. The greeting is well memorized, “Hey girl, what do you use on your hair????”

LOL. If I had a dollar for everytime I have asked or been asked that question…I’d be a very rich chick!

In a world of relaxed and natural, finding that one thing that works great on your hair is often times a full-time job in itself. Go to a natural sistas house, especially my lady loves that are new to the game and under her sink you will find a collection of hair care products that could revival the shelves of your local Wal-mart. From Aveda to Bumble & Bumble to Sebastian to Pantene….natural sistas are constantly in search of the product that will give their afro it’s -liciousness. Good alcohol vs. bad alcohol, humectant or not to humectant, leave in conditioners vs. hairdresses…the battlefield for moisturized, healthy looking hair is not easily navigated.

It took me a year and tons of money invested in everything from homemade shea products to high end salon mishaps to find my niche and create my daily regimen. Being natural is not only a statement, but the amount of time that it take to maintain a ‘fro makes it a way of life!

La Editor’s Favorite Natural Hair Product of the Month:

Pantene Pro-V Hydrating Curls Conditioner: I have met so many natural sistas that have agreed that there is no other conditioner in the world that makes their hair feel like Hydrating Curls. I love it and based on the fact that the large bottles are always sold out in my local Target…sistas yall are loving it too!! It’s a creamy conditioner that locks in moisture and invigorates your curl pattern.

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Bold is the name of the game this Spring (we at the BGGUIDE love Bold so its only fitting that the rest of the world finally caught on!) Kiss matte reds goodbye and say hello to the VaVaVaVoom of bold hues such as gold, green, blue and orange.

I know some of my sistas are like…those are colors are not in my repetoire, but honey let me tell you, no one wears these colors like we do.

The trick to pulling off bold colors is knowing what feature on your face you want to focus on. If you go with luscious lips de o’range, you don’t need to also have bold colors on your eyes (unless of course you like living on the edge…and ain’t nothing wrong with that). If you amp up your pretty lids with a gold shadow and a spirited green liner, keep your pucker natural and muted. If cheeks are you are your thing, stick to a bold liquid liner on your lid and a soft color on your pout.

Remember baybays we’re doing fab not drag.

Check out this springs trends on the M.A.C. site!

My favorite feature(s) to play up are my pretty brown eyes!

La Editor’s Spring Eye
So as we all know that I am a M.A.C. Addict through and through…so please forgive me if my spring eye is a combination of fabulous M.A.C. shades!

After laying down Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (a B.I.G. Girl’s must for keeping your shadow in place all day) apply:

Lid: M.A.C. Juiced Eyeshadow
Crease: M.A.C. Goldenrod Eyedshadow
Brow: M.A.C. Bright Sunshine Eyeshadow
Liner: Sephora Black Liquid Liner on the upper lid, M.A.C. Feline Liner on the lower lid (water line)
Lashes: Lots and Lots of Diorshow Black Out Mascara b.k.a. The best damn mascara EVER!

Note: The key to this eye is making the colors blend! Just because its three different shades of yellow, doesn’t mean they need to look like three different shades. Remember fab…not drag.

To compliment this bold and sexy eye try NARS Blush and Lip Gloss in Orgasm.

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Quite frankly, I don’t like smelling like other people, but I have to let my BGGUIDE fam in on my current favorite smelll!

I was raised by a woman that had no less than 10 perfumes on her vanity tray at a time. I remember my mother being a White Diamonds (back before it was available at a Ross near you) fanatic. It was her special occasion smell good, and I would sneak in to her room and splash a little behind each ear, my wrist, and neck as I had seen her do.

Perfume is one of life’s requirements. I don’t understand how you could leave your house not smelling…good. I will turn around in the morning if I’m rushing and forget to spray my pulse points (Note: It’s said that spraying your pulse points is what makes the smell last, since it is your body’s way of naturally heating up and emitting your smell good of choice.). I leave my perfume downstairs in a place where I can see it to make sure that I don’t miss a beat.

La Editor’s Pic For Smell Good of The Month:
Armani Code for Women

When I tell you…that Armani Code for Women smells like Hot Sex On A Platter…LADIES…spray it on your neck and watch the men be drawn like a moth to a fire. It is simply one of the most delicious smells I have ever encountered in my life…my entire life. I stood in one place for like 5 minutes sniffing my wrist, intrigued by how light and seductive the smell was.

It’s fresh and airy. Sweet with a dab of spice.
Now I can’t make any promises about what your outcome will be with the men folk. But, after even one spray of this delightful perfume, matched with a pair of black f-me pumps…BAYBAY…you could be the number one draft pick (Clothing is optional…lol).

Armani Code for Women is certified Fabulush! Available at a fine retailer near you.

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I graduated from a Kaboodle a while ago…my beauty supplies now reside in an organized 7 drawer storage system. Regardless of where they’re kept, there are some staples that I can’t be without and I hope you come to love them as well.

Warning: I am a certified M.A.C. addict (I think 100 eyeshadows entitles me to that distinction) so please don’t be surprised if M.A.C. products are mentioned multiple times.

My beauty basics list goes a little something like this…

Clinque 3 Step: This cleansing regimen has changed my life!! Wash, clarify, moisturize…it’s as easy as 1..2..3. And your face will love you for it!!

Mary Kay Satin Lips & Satin Lips Balm: OMG!! I know people frown when they hear “Mary Kay”, but if you love your lips, you need the Satin Lips set. A sexy pout is incomplete without it. I exfoliate with Satin Lips 2 times a week in the summer and 3 times a week in the winter. I cannot have my luscious lips looking cracked, chapped, or wack.

Urban Decay Primer Potion: every Fabulush chick dreads the point in the day where her beautifully beaten eyes..crease. Laying down primer potion makes your lids a canvas that eyeshadow can’t help but stick too…all day.

M.A.C. Mineralize Skinfinish (Natural): I love light coverage with a matte finish. A sista’s got to keep it eau naturale!! Mineralize Skinfinish does just that. Alone or used to set foundation, mineralize skinfinish is hands down, the best powder I’ve ever used. Period.

M.A.C. Charged Water/Renewal Defense: A lot of people like setting their face with M.A.C. Fix Plus spray, I love setting my face with Charged Water. Its refreshing, light, and has the same effect.

M.A.C. Duo Fibre Brush (187): While 42 bucks for a brush may not seem like the wisest investment, at first…fabulush chicks NEED to have this brush in their repetoire. NOTHING applies foundation and powder the way that this brush does. I put on everything, from moisturizer to blush with this brush, and it hasn’t let me down yet!!

Alright my lovelies…this was only the beginning!! I’ll pop in again with another sneak peek into my beauty musts soon.

Kissez,
Z

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Chocolate

dipped in

PiNk

 Red!! Hot pink!! Magenta!!  All shades for the fair-skinned, right? 

 WRONG!!!   

We CGW (Chocolate Girl Wonders) can wear these shades too!  

We tend to stray away from the reds and pinks, for fear that our finished look may resemble that of Bozo the clown. Have no fear! If worn properly, red lipstick can turn a simple mouth into a sultry pout.  

With so many shades in the red family, your first question is probably going to be:   

Where do I start!?!? 

First, realize that red comes in many shades and with many different undertones. The bright orangey - reds, and cherry reds look best on the fair skinned (not to say they wont work on us) and the darker reds with the purple undertones suit us better. Bright pinks work well with most complexions but should always be tried on first.

 Gone are the days of MAC’s oh so famous, Oh Baby lipglass, WITH the chestnut lip liner (can’t forget that!). Put away the golds, bronzes and mute shades and experiment with some color!  

Here are my top  4 red/pink shades for brown skin: 

DIOR – Red Premiere 752 Liptsick – hydrating lipstick with a berry kick$26.00 www.sephora.com  

MAC - Plush Luxe Plushglass – a flouresant pink with a pink pearl shimmer $17.50 www.maccosmetics.com 

MAC – Girl about Town lipstick – a BRIGHT fushcia crème lipstick (one of my favorite)$14.00 www.maccosmetics.com 

Loreal- Cherry Freeze 415 Color Juice Stick  - red with a purple undertone$8.99 www.cvs.com All drugstores near you   

Tips for wearing red/ pink lip color:

• Wear lip liner to avoid sloppy application. Liners should always be a shade lighter then your lipstick.  Remember when you first learned how to color? Stay within the lines!
• Try a lipstick and lip gloss combo. Add gloss to your favorite shade of lipstick for that ultra shine finish.

   Lastly, if you aren’t ready for the DITA VON TEASE look, try a lip gloss! They are a tad bit on the safe side (for the more reserved) as they are sheer with just the right amount of tint! But if you are ready for those red lips or pink pucker, visit the counter of your favorite makeup brand, sit with an artist and have them find the best shade for you!   

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Coming Soon

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