Is Your Deodorant Safe?

Have you ever looked at the ingredients on the back of your deodorant?  Many of us read the ingredients on products that we eat, but rarely consider the products being absorbed into our largest organ – our skin!  Today, we want to talk about safer deodorant options. We decided to get rid of those toxic ingredients in our hygiene regiment and try a safer way to deodorize our body odor.

Antiperspirant 

Let’s chat about antiperspirant. Antiperspirant is a substance that is applied to the skin to prevent or reduce perspiration. In layman’s terms it means to stop your body or underarm area from sweating. Leading deodorant brands use aluminum to stop your body from doing something it should do naturally - sweat!   Aluminum is used in most deodorants we use every day. Some research states that aluminum might be one of the leading causes of breast cancer or Alzheimer’s. Since we aren't doctors or researchers we don’t know this to be facts, but we want to be mindful of what we and you put in/on our bodies and try to rid ourselves of those everyday toxins we can control.

Benefits

All products should be applied to clean skin. This will ensure its effectiveness.  These products aren't antiperspirants; you may still sweat but you will not have an odor. These options don’t leave a sticky, hard to clean residue behind; therefore, there’s no product build up.  They also don’t discolor the underarm area.

Deodorant Alternatives - Application

Lime

Cut the lime in half, gently squeeze and apply to your underarm area.  Then slice a thin layer off the used lime half and throw it away. This will help with the lime’s longevity. Place it in a sandwich bag or container and store it in your refrigerator. Be sure to label it to ensure no one uses the lime for cooking purposes.  We both find the lime to be very effective in controlling odor.

Jason Pure Natural Deodorant

This can be applied like your normal deodorant. It will leave a clear/white film, but it will be clear once it absorbs into the skin. We recommend this deodorant for non-active days only.

Crystal Body Deodorant Stick

Before applying, you want to wet the stone then apply to your underarms. This deodorant has no scent or color and it feels like nothing is going on your skin. This product will give you all day odor protection.

Homemade Deodorants

You only need to take a small dab with your finger and rub into your underarms.  It’s an organic homemade product compromised of coconut oils, essential oils and more.  This product lasts the entire day and leaves no residue.

If you interested in purchasing an  excellent organic homemade deodorant check out Yoga WildFlower.

YouTube Video

Watch our video to get the 411 on our natural deodorant experience and get exclusive tips and tricks you can only see on the video!

If you have any tips or tricks, please be sure to share in the comments section below.

Be Bold!

Skin Care Regimen

How are you cleaning your face?  There are so many products out there that you can use to help reduce fine lines, acne and more. Today we want to share with you a simple, affordable and most importantly, effective skin care regimen that works for our skin and most skin types.

Before the Skin Care Regimen

After the Skin Care Regimen

Here is what you will need:
• Black Soap
• Aloe Vera Gel
• Moisturizer
• Eye cream – Optional
• H20

We both prefer using organic/natural products on our skin.  We believe it often provides the best results with minimal to no damage to the skin unlike many cosmetic lines on the market.

Cleanse:

Step 1:  We first wash our face with back soap.  Once we finish washing our face, we gently pat our face dry.

Benefits:  “Black soap has a long history of helping to treat eczema, freckles, dark spots, and fine lines. Among it's list of uses black soap is one of the best acne products on the market. Being a gentle soap, it won't irritate sensitive skin, also making it a good option for babies or the elderly. Black soap's deep cleansing properties are great for clearing up oily skin stopping acne from forming. Shea butter and other botanicals will help dry out and heal current blemishes leaving your skin radiant in no time.” (Source: http://africaimports.com/black_soap_article.asp)

Heal:

Step 2:  Then we take a dab of aloe vera gel and gently rub the gel into our skin. When applied to the skin, aloe has a cooling effect and helps to heal blemishes, cuts and scars.

Benefit:  “Aloe vera is a cactus plant that belongs to the Liliaceae family. It grows in dry climates such as those found in parts of Africa and India and has been used medicinally for centuries. Various studies have been conducted to examine the benefits of the aloe vera plant and it was found out that aloe vera does in fact have several properties that are effective in treating a variety of skin conditions, from flaky or dry skin, cosmetic ailments, hair and scalp problems to many more. Tt is also said to be useful in treating wounds and burns, minor skin infections, eczema and more.”
(Source: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7654/the-benefits-of-using-aloe-vera-for-skin-care-and-more.html)

Moisturize:

Step 3:  Once you've applied your aloe you will apply your moisturizer.  Moisturizer selections will vary from person to person based on your skin type.   You may want to apply eye cream at this point if you suffer from puffy eyes or feel that the skin underneath your eye is dry.

Hydrate:

Step 4:  Lastly, you want to make sure you are drinking eight glasses of water every day.  This will ensure your skin is always looking its best!

Watch the below video to see the exact products we use and more special tips and tricks!

Be Bold!

Feng Shui Naturals Hair & Skin Care Line Review

We had the pleasure of visiting Brownstone Natural Hair & Barber Studio’s LoctoberFest on Monday, October 27!  The event was filled with deeply-discounted hair services, complimentary breakfast and lunch, handmade jewelry and excellent customer service.  

Upon arrival, we were greeted by courteous Brownstone stylists who were ready and willing to cater to our needs.  Shortly after, we met with Brownstone owners Jamal and Abenee Timazee –husband and wife partners - to discuss the event and their Feng Shui Naturals  hair and skin care line.  The energy, enthusiasm and services provided at Brownstone are just a few reasons why we recommend you check out this salon, but today we want to primarily discuss the Philadelphia born product line – Feng Shui Naturals.

The Product

Feng Shui Naturals was created in April 2004 in response to a client complaining about his itchy, inflamed scalp.  Abenee, a driven and compassionate stylist, began thinking and formulating natural combinations that could potentially provide relief for her client. She came up with the product now known as “Feng Shui Hair & Scalp Serum.” When asked how the Feng Shui methodology translates to her hair and skin care line, Abenee responded, “Feng Shui represents balance.  Many reasons we suffer from ailments like hair loss, itchy scalp and other skin conditions is because our body is creating more or less of different hormones that may adversely affect us.  The Feng Shui Naturals line tries to balance out some of these things.  Every product in the line contains traditional Feng Shui elements like water, fire and more.”

Currently, the Feng Shui Naturals line consists of 11 products, including hand wash, body scrub, moisturizers and more.  Many of the products were developed based on the needs and request of Abenee’s clients.  All of the products are organic and handmade with a shelf life of 2 to 5 years, depending on the product. But Abenee is so confident of her product’s natural goodness, she adds, “If you ate my products you would not get sick!”

The job of an entrepreneur never end, as as Abenee spends her evenings making each product from scratch.  With every product she prides herself on providing quality and continuum. As a result of her hard work and attention to detail three out of the 11 Feng Shui products landed a spot on the shelves of seven Whole Foods Market stores in the region.

It was a two-year wait and vigorous application process but, “when you really focus on something, it will take off,” says Abenee.    The next time you’re at a Whole Foods Market, check out Feng Shui Naturals:  Feng Shui, Bambo and Ubiquity!   You may even have the opportunity to meet the jovial owner and founder of the line at your local store, as she regularly gives out samples and explains all of the amazing benefits of the products to customers.

The Review

We had the opportunity to try out two products, Energy body scrub and Harmony hand and body moisturizer from the Feng Shui Naturals line.  Here are our thoughts on the products.

Energy:  All-In-One Moisturizing, Exfoliating Body Scrub

Egypt:  As soon as I opened the bag I was in love!  The smell of the body scrub is delightful.  The scent lingers for most of the day without being overpowering.  My lips tend to get very dry and brittle due to my lipstick, so I decided to try the moisturizing and exfoliating scrub on my lips.  After gently scrubbing and rinsing, the dry skin was removed and my lips felt soft and supple again!

Toya:  I love the smell of both products. I used the scrub on dry areas of my skin right before my shower. It's a gentle yet effective body scrub. This scrub didn't irritate or leave my skin feeling dry. I also love that this product contains all natural ingredients.  The body scrub is the right texture, not too oily or  grainy – it’s just the right consistency!

Harmony:  Hand and Body Moisturizer

Egypt:  I used the moisturizer on my hands.  The smell of the product is light and gender neutral.  I didn't really love the texture of the moisturizer.  It’s a bit hard, but after melting it slightly, by simply sitting it under warm water, it applied perfectly.

Toya:  I use the hand and body cream for both my body and hair. I like to use this product right after the shower while my skin is still wet – it glides on with ease.  My skin is moisturized and soft all day. This product isn't sticky or greasy.  It absorbs into the skin well. I also used this product to do a twist out and got great results. I didn't have a problem using this in my hair, since it's a natural product. I wet my hair with a little water and applied a small amount of product (a little goes a long way). I love how this product made my hair feel soft and manageable. The next morning I took my hair out using no extra product. It wasn't heavy and weighted down by product and provided great definition.

Visit Brownstone:

Brownstone Natural Hair & Barber Studio
1729 South Street
Philadelphia PA 19146
215-545-2555

Brownstone Facebook
Brownstone Instagram

Feng Shui Naturals Website
Feng Shui Naturals Twitter
Feng Shui Naturals Instagram

Eyeliner WING 101

Don’t you just love this look?  Interested in learning the easiest way to accomplish it?  Here’s a quick and easy way to create a wing until you have mastered your own eyeliner stroke!

For weeks I tried to nail down this look.  I managed to always nail one eye but couldn't achieve the same look on the opposite eye.  I watched tutorial after tutorial and practiced a million and one techniques using a pencil, cream liner pencil, liquid liner and gel eyeliner with a brush but after trial and error and some research, I found a sure way to perfect a wing.

The things you will need:

• Tape

• Eyeliner – I recommend using a eyeliner brush and gel eyeliner 

Recommendation:

Put both pieces of tape on first and make sure the tape is angled identically.  This will help ensure your wings look the same on both eyes.

Finished Product

Watch our YouTube video for step-by-step instructions.

Be Bold!

Drugstore Glam Look – NYC Palette Review

Are you a beginner at applying makeup?  Do you want to try different types of makeup and looks before spending the big bucks?  Do you enjoy makeup?  Do you consider yourself a “wannabe” makeup artist?  Do you want to try a trending color without spending an arm and a leg first? If you find yourself saying yes to any of these questions, you've come to the right place!

We love makeup like many woman, but purchasing high-end products isn't always feasible when you're on a budget!  Now I will admit, purchasing eye shadow at the drugstore can be tricky.  There are brands that are carried by drugstores that are really cheap and not made well, but the only way you will discover the good from the bad is through trial and error.   The positive things about trial and error at CVS is that products can range anywhere from $1.00 – 12.00, so you aren't breaking the bank during your makeup exploration experience.

NYC Cosmetics’s IndividualEyes 942 Smokey Blues Eye Shadow Palette 

I decided to try out NYC Cosmetics’s IndividualEyes 942 Smokey Blues.  Although the packaging recommends this palette for blue eyes I decided to purchase it anyway.  If you see colors that you think are beautiful, just try them. You never know how they will look on your skin.  These colors came out beautifully - the palette was well worth the $4.50.

Note:  I did use brushes to apply the eye shadow.  We don’t recommend using the applicators that come with your drugstore products; invest in some good brushes.  They will last you a very long time.

Finished product

I achieved my entire look with all drugstore products.  Not bad if I say so myself!

Face:

Primer:  NYX’s Studio Perfect Photo Loving Primer
Foundation:   Revlon’s Nearly Naked, 250 Caramel
Powder:  Revlon’s Nearly Naked Pressed Powder, Deep 050
Concealer:  Maybelline Fit Concealer, 35 Deep
Highlight:   Physicians Formula’s Shimmer Strips Vegas Strip /Light Bronzer
Blush:   Milani’s Baked Blush 02 Rose D'oro

Eyes:

Eyeshadow:  NYC’s IndividualEyes 942 Smokey Blues 
Mascara:   NYC’s Big Bold Ultra Volumizing Mascara Black
Brows:  NYC’s Browser Brush-On Brow Kit, 876A Brunette

Lips:

Liner:   Wet n’ Wild’s Brow Liner Pencil, 651 Black
Lipstick:  NYX’s Matte Lipstick, Sweet Pink  & Perfect Red

Watch our Youtube video tutorial to see exactly how I accomplished this look!

Be Bold!

The Diva Cup Review

I woke up this morning feeling rather sluggish.  My head was hurting a bit, my stomach was in knots, people were getting on my nerves just a little bit more than usual and my breast felt like watermelons, but I carried on.  I got up, got dressed and left for work.  When I arrived I looked at my calendar and there was the reminder – period due tomorrow!  UGH.

Don’t you just dread all that comes along with your monthly cycle with the one exception – thank goodness I’m not pregnant (lol).  So do we – so we felt it was our duty to inform you of a product, The Diva Cup, that can make this monthly 5-7 day experience 50% better!

When did you start using the diva cup?

Toya:  I started using the diva cup in the summer of 2012.

Egypt:  The first time was probably in 2007 or 2008.  I tried it – long story short it was a disaster so I gave up on it.  Seven years later, I decided to give it another whirl and I absolutely love it.  So I’ve been officially using it for 3 months.

Why did you start using the cup?

Toya:  I knew about this product for a couple of years before I actually used it. A few of my friends recommended the product, but I would not budge. My exact words were, “Nope, not doing it." While out with my husband, I had an accident and at that very moment I knew it was time to try something new.  Super tampons with panty liners were no longer working for me.

Egypt:  Friends of mine had been raving about the product so I said, “why not."  I’m always looking for ways to cut costs, and pads and tampons are dreadful!

How long have you been using it?

Toya:  I’ve been using the diva cup for 2 years.

Egypt:  I’ve been using my diva cup for 3 months.

Where did you purchase it and for how much?

Toya:  I’m on my second diva cup and both were purchased from vitacost.com. I paid $26.00 for the first cup and $30.00 for the second cup.

Egypt:  I purchased my first cup at Wholefoods for $40.00.  Through some unforeseen events I lost the first cup and had to repurchase.  I purchased the second cup on Amazon for $30.00.

How do you like the product?

Toya:  There are so many reasons to love the diva cup. I can use it for a year. It’s environmentally friendly. This product has shortened the length of my cycle. It’s also very comfortable and doesn’t need to be removed for up to 12-hours.

Egypt:  I love this product for all the same reasons Toya named.  To be frank, you feel less gross throughout the day with this product.

Have you tried any other menstrual cups?

Toya:  I haven’t tried any other products but I am open to trying others.

Egypt:  I haven’t tried any other menstrual cups either.

How do you insert the cup?

Toya:  I like to be nude before I put the cup in or at least have my pants and panties completely off. This way I’m not restricted and can open my legs wide. I usually sit on the toilet while inserting the cup. I start out folding the cup, I use my thumb and index finger to insert. I don’t push it straight up like a tampon but instead I push it back. Then I wait to feel it pop open.  Once it pops open I know it’s in correctly. If for some reason I don’t feel it pop, I will remove and repeat.

Egypt:  I will also insert the diva cup without any pants and undergarments on.  You need to be able to open up wide and your underclothing can be very restrictive.  I will rinse out the cup one last time before inserting.  You want to make sure your cup is sterilized before inserting.  While sitting in a seated position, normally on my tub, I will hold open the labia (aka vagina lips) with one hand and insert my folded cup with the other hand.  I hold the labia open because it allows for smooth entry and cuts down on irritation if you have to reinsert a few times before getting it in correctly.   It is important that you push back and not up – remember this is not a tampon.  Inserting the diva cup while sitting will help ensure that you are putting the cup in the correct way.

How do you remove the cup?

Toya:  I remove it while sitting on the toilet. I take my right hand, then I use my thumb and index finger and I go in a take it out. I then dump it in the toilet (the waste). If I’m home I clean it well with my soap of choice and rinse well with warm water. Now if I’m out and have to dump I just rinse it well if I’m in a stall with a sink. If I can’t rinse and need to remove I just dump and reinsert.

Egypt:  Before removing I make sure I wash my hands with non-scented soap, you want to avoid using anything that could potentially interrupt your normal PH-balance.  After washing my hands, I will remove my pants and undergarments and get into a squatted position making sure my butt is just about touching my heels.  I then insert my pointer finger inside my vagina.  I will go up as far as I can, the goal is to get as close to the top of the diva cup as possible, and push the side of the Diva Cup in towards the other side of the cup.  This will break the suction and allow you to easily remove
the Diva Cup.  This step is optional – try this if you are having issues removing.  After breaking the suction I will remove my pointer finger and bare down, as if I were moving my bowels.  While baring down I will then take my two fingers (thumb and pointer) and grab the stem and gently pull down until I have a good grip on the cup.  I will then pull the cup out and dump (the waste) in the toilet, rinse with warm water and mild unscented soap and reinsert.

What challenges have you faced using the product?

Toya:  I didn't have many challenges. The one challenge I did struggle with was putting it in properly. I could not get it to open, so the first couple of days using the Diva Cup I had lots of leakage. But once I got the technique down I had no issues.  

Egypt:  I had several issues removing the Diva Cup.  For the life of me I just couldn't pull it out unless it was completely full and leaking.  After reading a million reviews I learned that you must break the suction in order to successfully pull the Diva Cup out.  It definitely took two full cycles for me to get it down, but in the third month it was a breeze.

How do you clean the Diva Cup?

Toya:  To sterilize the cup after I’m done, I clean the cup well with soap. Place it in to a glass jar and pour in boiling hot water.

Egypt:  Similar to Toya, I also clean my cup with warm water and a mild soap.  Afterwards I put my cup into my designated Diva Cup mason jar and add a little bit of mild soap and boiling hot water into the jar.  I let the cup sit in the water for 10-minutes.  I then remove, dry and place in my Diva Cup pouch and store in my undergarment drawer until next month.

Pads & Tampons VS. Menstrual Cups

Tampons aren't your friend: fibers can be caught in the vaginal canal, “over-absorb’ precious vaginal fluids, and dry out the mucous membrane.

Pads aren't much better:  they create a stifling, moist environment – ground zero for yeast infections, bacteria and odor.

Menstrual cups are your periods’ super heroine (and here to protect you):  it doesn't disrupt the vagina’s lubricating ability, or interfere with the natural process of shedding menstrual blood, dead cells and bacteria. The upside?  There have been no reported cased of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) in connection with the use of menstrual cups.  (Source:  Lunette)

Any helpful tips you would like to share with beginners?

• You must be very comfortable with you lower region to successfully use this product.  
• Make sure to be relaxed when inserting and removing.  
• Don’t panic.  If the cup isn't coming out just go sit down, watch a movie and try again later.  It will come out.  
• Use a pad or panty liner the first few months. This will ensure you don’t have any unforeseen accidents in public.
• Read the reviews on Vitacost and/or Amazon. The reviews were very helpful when we started out. 
• In the directions it tells you to turn your diva cup in a circular motion to ensure its properly suctioned. This can be difficult and awkward.  We recommend skipping this step.  Just insert and listen or feel for the “pop” and you’ll know its inserted correctly.
• Lastly, don’t give up! It will take a couple of cycles to nail your technique, but once you get it down you won’t ever want to go back to traditional methods.

Watch our video on the Diva Cup.  We will show you how it works and share funny stories of our first experiences with the cup.

Note:  Click here for more information on the Diva Cup

Eyebrow Highlighting & Shea Moisture First Impression

Eyebrow Highlighting with Egypt

When completing your face there are various tips and tricks to polish off the look.  Some use a bit of finishing powder to keep it all in place, some add on lashes to bring out the eyes and others may dust on a bit of bronzer for a golden look; personally I must highlight my eyebrows!  I have a thicker brow so adding a bit of shadow to my brow is the perfect final touch to leave my face looking gorgeous. Here are my tips for highlighting brows:

Supplies
Eyebrow pencil or shadow and brow brush
Tweezers for any rogue eyebrow hairs
Concealer or light color eye shadow
Eyebrow comb/brush

First, you will want to pluck any out of place hairs under the brow.  This will give your brow a cleaner look.

Second, you will brush your brows to ensure all your hairs are going in the correct direction

Third, you will slowly outline the bottom of your brow with concealer or eye shadow and then lightly highlight the brow bone with the concealer.  You don’t need a lot of concealer to achieve this look.

TIP:  I recommend using concealer.  It resembles eye shadow and will hide any eyebrow flaws you might be experiencing.  Example, if you are in need of eyebrow waxing just use your concealer to hide those unwanted hairs.

Fourth, you will take your eyebrow pencil or brush and lightly outline the bottom of the brow with your color of choice.  Then you will want to brush upward making sure you are coloring in any holes you may have in your brows.  You want to make sure your color looks even and natural.

TIP:  Make sure to outline the bottom of your brow all the way to the tip/end of your brow. You want your brows to look consistent.

Finally, you will take your eyebrow brush and gently brush the color through the entire brow to reinforce consistent color throughout the brow.

Watch the video below to see a demonstration of how to achieve this look.

Shea Moisture First Impression with Toya

I’m in love with the Shea Moisture Line, I jumped at the opportunity to try their new “Jamaican Black Castor Oil” (JBCO) – Strengthen, Grow and Restore line.  A natural girl at heart, I try and use as many natural products as I can on my skin and hair.  Staying away from hair products that contain sulfates and other harsh chemicals is extremely important to maintaining healthy growing hair.   The Shea Moisture Line does an excellent job at providing natural and organic products.  As a result of running low on my normal go-tos, this was the perfect time to try out the JBCO line.  I must say, I absolutely loved the line and it was worth every penny!  I purchased the Shampoo, Leave-in Conditioner, Treatment Masque and Styling Lotion, together my purchased averaged about $50.00. These products left my hair feeling soft and well moisturized.  Here are the steps I used in creating this look:

First, I washed my hair with the JBCO Strengthen, Grow and Restore shampoo.  The shampoo has a great consistency and allowed me to “finger” comb my hair, permitting me to de-tangle my hair.

Second, I deep conditioned my hair with the JBCO Strengthen, Grow and Restore Treatment Masque. I simply sectioned areas of my hair, placed the cream on the section, combed the product into my hair and twisted each section.

TIP:  Always brush/comb from the tips of your hair and slowly move up to avoid damaging your hair and pulling at the follicle.

Third, I put a plastic cap over my head and sat under the dryer for about 15-20 minutes so the Treatment Masque could work it’s magic.

Fourth, I rinsed out the product and then rubbed in the JBCO Strengthen, Grow and Restore Leave In Conditioner.

Fifth, I sectioned small areas of hair and put in the JBCO Strengthen, Grow and Restore Styling Lotion.  After putting in the styling lotion I rolled each section of my hair with a rod.

The final step would be to either allow your hair to air dry which could take anywhere from 8-15 hours depending on your hair or you can sit under the dryer until your hair is dry.

Voila, your hair should feel soft and manageable after these steps.

Still feeling unsure?  Take a look at our tutorial below.

Get Ready with Bold Brownies

In pursuit of building our beauty blogging empire, it was only fitting to have professional photos taken of the Bold Brownies!  Excited about our new blogging endeavor, we booked a photographer and began soliciting the services of some of our favorite makeup artists to create our looks for our fabulous photo shoot.  After unsuccessfully trying to book five makeup artists, we figured it was a sign – we should be doing our own makeup!  A bit reluctant - keep in mind we are NOT makeup artists – we took the plunge and accepted the challenge! Take a look at how we did!

The Looks 

Toya decided to go with a Bold lips and a lightly smoked out eye!

Face

Primer – NYX Studio Perfect Primer
Foundation – Kat Von D Lock It Tattoo – Deep 71
Bronzer – NYX Matte Bronzer – Deep tan
Blush – NYX Baked Blush – Ignite
Blush – bareMinerals Pure Radiance All-Over Face Color
Blush – Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder – Deep 050

Applying the Concealer

Eye:

Primer – Urban Decay Eye shadow Primer Potion - Original
Eye Liner – NYX Gel Eyeliner & Smudger - Jet black
Lid –  Lorac Pro Palette 2 - Rose
Base – NAKED3 Eye shadow Palette – Strange
Crease – NAKED3 Eye shadow Palette – Nooner
Crease – bareMinerals – Sex Kitten
Inside Corner – NAKED3 Eye shadow Palette – Black Heart
Outer Corner – NAKED3 Eye shadow Palette – Trick
Mascara – bareMinerals – Lash Domination

Filling in the Crease

Lip

Lip Liner – MAC Lip Pencil – Cherry
Lip Stick – NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream – Copenhagen

Lining the Lips

Hair 

Style – Flat TwistOut
Products – Aura Cacia Organic Skin Care Oil - Argan Oil

Pulling out the Twist

Final Product

Egypt decided to go with a natural lip and an extreme smoky eye!

Face

Concealer – MAC Studio Finish SPF35 Concealer – NW30
Foundation – Buxom Show Some Skin Weightless Foundation – Almond the Nude
Bronzer – MAC Mineralize Skin Finish – Gold Deposit
Blush – MAC Powder Blush - Raizin

Applying concealer

Eye

Primer – Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion - Original
Brow Bone – MAC Studio Finish SPF35 Concealer – NW30
Brow Liner - MAC Eye Shadow Charcoal Brown Matte
Base – Urban Decay NAKED2 Eye Shadow Palette – Booty Call
Lid – Urban Decay NAKED2 Eye Shadow Palette – Blackout
Crease – MAC Eye Shadow – Texture
Crease – Urban Decay Electric Eye Shadow Palette - Jilted
Inside Corner – Urban Decay NAKED2 Eye Shadow Palette – Foxy
Eyelashes – Ardell Eyelashes – #101 Demi
Mascara – Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara

Filling in eye brows

Touching up eyes shadow

Lip

Lip Liner – MAC Lip Pencil – Cork 

Lip Stick – MAC - Cherish
Lip Gloss – NYX Butter Gloss - Madeleine

Applying Lipstick

The Final Product

Accessories

Earrings – Arimas Jewelry Box – Flutterby Butterfly Earrings
Rings – Arimas Jewelry Box – Duel Knuckle Rings

Together we are Bold Brownies…

Shout Outs

We want to shout out our photographer for the day!  His name is Sean Cave and he is amazing! If you are looking for a reliable and affordable photographer, he’s your guy!   Click here to contact him directly!

Lastly, we would like to shout out Don Scott!  He was our videographer for the day!  Thanks for helping us share our experience with the world!  Don is a Philly artist!  He’s one of the creators of Philly Paint Date and does a lot of other great events in the city.  Click here to learn about his upcoming event, the Bike and BBQ! Pt. 2

Watch these looks come to life - Live

Be Bold!

Bold Lips on a Budget w/Toya

Are you looking for a great lipstick that doesn’t hurt your pockets?  If so, you’ve come to the right place!  Below is a variety of beautiful shades just for you at just the right prices as recommended by Bold Brownies!

Spending $20-$25 on various products quarterly for new seasonal colors or even my everyday favs can be very expensive, which brings me to this week’s exploration – beautiful, bold lipstick colors on a budget.  My goal was to research and uncover fabulous, unfamiliar, reasonably priced brands and colors for the fall and winter months.  I thought it was going to be an easy task, but after going from store to store it turned out to be quite challenging. My neighborhood drug stores seemed to be sold out of virtually every product I wanted to try! After searching high and low, I managed to find a few of my favorite colors, typically bold reds and purples, and a few new shades as well.  

Maybelline Cosmetics

The first two beautiful shades I discovered were from Maybelline’s Color Sensational lipstick line. The price point for this brand is around $8.00.  Both lipstick shades, Nude Embrace and Siren in Scarlet, are true to color, have a soft matte finish and glide on with ease –the color and brand quality makes this product worth every penny! Siren in Scarlet, hands down, is my favorite.  This is a “get glam and go out” type of red.  Everything about this product screams, Toya!  I’ll definitely be adding this shade to my staple red collection.   Siren in Scarlet does not require a lip pencil, but does slightly stain your lips.  Nude embrace, although beautiful, did require a bit more attention. When wearing this shade I will definitely pair it with a lip-gloss and liner for more depth. Overall, I love this line and can’t wait to run out and buy more!

NYX Cosmetics

I am beyond in love with this brand.  NYX cosmetics provides great quality at excellent price points. I purchased four lip creams from their Soft Matte Lip Cream line.  I love the consistency and the color range this particular line offers.   I wanted to buy every shade they had, but I settled with four…for now! These babies normally cost $6.00 but I purchased them at Ulta Beauty at 40% off – can you say “winning”! These matte lip creams are dense in texture and easy to apply.   If I were to be asked to describe this product I would say, “What you see is what you get.”   The four bold hues I purchased were Praque, Monte Carlo, Copenhagen and Transylvania. All four shades can be worn alone or with a lip liner for more intensity. Although high pigment, (or what I like to call bold), shades tend to stain, to my surprise and delight these soft matte lip creams don’t tint my lips at all.

Milani Cosmetics

The last items I found on my quest for bold lips were from Milani’s Color Statement lipstick line. These beauties make a bold statement that will only cost you $6.00. I found these at my local CVS store at a discount – buy one get the second 50% off. I chose two beautiful shades, Sangria and Double Espresso. These colors have great pigmentation and have a hint of shine.  Lip liner isn’t necessary, but these shades do leave an ever so slight lingering stain to your lips.

Lip Primer

Bold lip colors tend to stain your lips, matte colors can sometimes dry your lips out, a remedy for some of these unfavorable side effects is a lip primer.  I purchased NYX’s lip primer which cost about $7.00. I picked one of my top “lip stain” offenders, Divine by Covergirl, and I put the lip primer to the test.   I love this shade, but even after it’s long gone the remnants of pinks and purples still remain. I applied the lip primer on my lips free of any leftover lipstick and applied Divine on top. I waited a few hours and wiped the lip color off. The lip primer didn’t work. My lips were still highly pigmented with the lip color. So the search continues. If you have any suggestions please leave them in the comment section.

Lipstick Shout Out 

One of my favorite drug store lipsticks is Shameless by Revlon.  It’s a matte balm.  Boy, do I love this shade!  It is definitely one of my go-to lipsticks. The color and finish is the bomb!

Check out our tutorial on Bold Lips!

Be Bold!!