Okay I picked up some new products the other day & want to give you all a little review of them!

1. Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder $33.00 – This bronzing powder is a top rated product from Bobbi Brown & after using it I can see why! This bronzer is super smooth. I bought a nice stiff contouring brush from Sephora to apply it with. I purchased the “deep” color because I wanted to use it as a contour on my cheeks, nose, & use it along my hair line to blend all of my makeup in. It is so seamless. I love Bobbi Brown products for skin as I’ve said many times before!

2. MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microfinish Blush $25.00 – LOVE THIS BLUSH! I got it in a number 8 -PDA, which is described as a Pinky Nude color. I use a MAC brush I have for foundation to apply it. Like all other MAKE UP FOR EVER products this is made for pictures & television. It is so smooth & creamy & blends perfectly. Totally worth it, especially because you can put it on sheer & build the color up as you want. The color can get really intense. I can’t wait to use this in a shoot!

3. Smashbox Lash DNA Mascara $19.00 – AJ Crimson suggested this mascara to me. I bought it & wasn’t super impressed, but it definitely gives a lot of volume. I still actually like the $10 Sephora mascara I tried the other week. I feel like this mascara is very heavy & clumped a little bit. But still a good mascara nonetheless.

I’d suggest the Bronzer & Blush. So amazing and a great fresh look. There’s a picture below where I used all three products

I spent a little time trying to look for lipsticks the other day. I hit Bloomingdales & checked out some counters. Two counters that caught my eye were Giorgio Armani & Yves Saint Laurent.

I didn’t actually try any one at Giorgio Armani because I was planning on dyeing my hair & wanted to wait until after I dyed it to find a a new lipstick to match. I did try on a great pink shade at Yves Saint Laurent that I loved! I will probably go back and purchase it at some point.

I’m still trying on different shades but here are the two types of lipstick I mentioned.

The Yves Saint Laurent lipstick (ROUGE VOLUPTÉ) is great coverage, super creamy & not sticky. I love it! I’m definitely going to purchase one of these.

The Giorgio Armani lipstick (Rouge D’armani Lipstick) I put on my hand just to view colors. It went on so smoothly & was also creamy. I loved two of the red shades I tried on & will keep you all posted on my purchases. Plus they had TONS of other gorgeous colors. Seriously, go check their lipsticks out!

If you find a color you absolutely love it’s worth spending the few extra dollars for the creamy-ness of their lipsticks.

Amber Rose was on the red carpet of the Espy’s (I know they happened awhile ago & I’m late). I thought her makeup looked gorgeous. Her skin is flawless normally, but it looks extra glowy here. Gorgeous!

The other day I decided to do something I never do…

BUY MAKEUP FROM A CONVENIENCE STORE THAT I COULND’T TRY ON!!! (I always love to try my makeup on before hand & wear it outside in natural lighting  before I decide to purchase it)

Anyway… I bought Revlon Photo Ready because I THOUGHT a friend told me to get that. Apparently she listed a different type of Revlon foundation, but I found that out after I bought the Photo Ready Foundation. I got it in caramel, which almost matches my skin color, maybe me in the winter, but not me with a tan.

Needless to say I tried the caramel Photo Ready Foundation & wasn’t a fan. It was smooth, but the finish has these micro reflective sparkles (I don’t even know what to call them). I guess to make your skin luminious, but I do not like it!! It was a weird finish, I could see the shine on my hands & I got oily faster throughout the day. Maybe it would work for someone who has dry skin, but it’s not for us oily skinned folks!

I will try another Revlon foundation in the future & tell you all what I find. This just wasn’t the one I liked. For now I’ll stick to my Bobbi Brown for everyday foundation & concealer if I need it – they have amazing skin products!

My goal for this week is to find the perfect red lipstick…again.

I want something that is a red brick color. So I know after work this week I’ll be hitting Sephora and Bloomy’s to try and find that perfect red I want it for the weekend festivities.

How gorgeous does Dania Ramirez look? She was photographed at Kelis’s album release party. I love the bright pink lip with a really clean bronze face. Gorgeous.

First things first, big thanks to the wonderful photographer Lauren Cowart & my beautiful friends Kelcie & Jessica who were the models!

Check out the behind the scenes photos here & peep two of the final photos below! Hope you all enjoy. This was a dark and edgy shoot as you can see. I love them! Thanks again ladies.

Hey guys! I have a great update!! Remember when I posted about AJ Crimson several months ago? If you need a refresher click here. AJ reached out to me because I featured him on my website & invited me to his new series of makeup workshops called “Affordable Beauty”. I was so excited to receive this personal email from him. He offered me 2 free tickets to attend the workshop! I’m obviously going to attend the one in NYC. Check out some info and different dates and times of the workshop below.

New York – July 28th – 115 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016

Atlanta - July 29th – 3080 McCall Dr., Suite 2, Atlanta, GA 30340

Houston – Aug. 3rd – L Dance Studio, 5175 Westhelmer Rd, Suite C2150, Houston, TX 77056

Los Angeles – Aug. 5th International Dance Academy, 6755 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA90028

All classes begin at 7pm & are $25.00 a piece – so affordable for such great lessons! I can’t wait to attend the one in NYC. AJ wants all participates to bring their makeup bag with them & come ready to learn! Click HERE to register for the classes – this is an amazing opportunity at an amazing price.

AJ was also kind enough to allow me to interview him – which will be taking place this SUNDAY! We are still working out details, but a face to face interview will be coming soon & it will also be featured on J’adore Magazine’s website (My friend @EricaRae works for J’adore and set that up for me. Thanks!). Check out AJ’s website here.

Check out some photos of AJ below & make sure you look out for the interview in the next couple weeks!

Here are some photos from Rihanna’s most recent shoot with Seventeen Magazine.

It’s a different look from her usual dark clothing & makeup. I like it! I want to try some bright eyeshadow – it’s been awhile since I’ve really worn eyeshadow like that. I’m now inspired Look for a post in the next couple weeks with bright eyeshadow!

Lauren London & Cassie were at the BET awards and looked gorgeous. I love the natural bronze look on both ladies. Perfect for day or night!

I HAVE A FEW THINGS I WANT TO GET IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS…

1. Flesh toned eye liner – it’s a less retro, more natural option verse white liner – when put on your inside lower rim it makes your eyes appear bigger – also helps if you smudge a little on the inner corner to open up the eyes more.I’m going to try the MAC Kohl eyeliner for that. I love their eyeliners.

2. Cream blush – much more natural look than powder blush. I’m going to try Bobbi Browns and NARS – maybe another brand I haven’t tried yet & see which I like more

3. I need to find a new red lipstick – my NARS “Scarlet Empress” lipstick is my favorite red – it’s so rich and deep, but the color has been reformulated & it no longer is the shade I love – so the hunt for my perfect red lip continues…

4. A few false lashes – I am going to wear false lashes when I go out more – it’s such a quick & easy way to play up your eyes. So pretty when they’re natural looking. Shu Uemura & MAC have great lashes!

That’s it for now I think… ohhh!!

5. A new makeup case – my makeup case is falling apart – and is WAY too small.

Wow!

Kristen Stewart stepped out for the red carpet premiere of Twilight – whichever one this is.. Eclipse right? I don’t really pay attention – although Taylor is super sexy. Kristen looks amazing with a…

Gray smokey eye…

Flushed pink cheeks…

and Natural lips…

Talk about fresh faced. Amber Rose stepped out with some bronzer & mascara on. She looks fresh and amazing!

Here are some photos of some great celeb makeup. LOVE

So most of my product reviews have a majority of the same products I always use, but this product review has two products in particular that I’ve never tried before. I took the picture above in my bathroom of some things I picked up this past weekend. I needed a red and pink lip liner, I wanted two different colored lipsticks (both are great!) & decided to finally invest in some Bobbi Brown foundation. NOTHING has disappointed. Check out the review below…

1. NEW – Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation SPF 15 – I have never tried Bobbi Brown foundation but I hear AMAZING things about it. I have a concealer from Bobbi Brown and absolutely love it. This foundation did not fail. It looks like you have NOTHING on at all – I use a sponge to put it on & it’s flawless – definitely my new favorite foundation for everyday/a night out – for photoshoots I still like MAKE UP FOR EVER – Get it at Bobbi Brown counters at department stores or online here. – $45.00

2. MAC Satin Lipstick in Rebel - My friend Kelcie loves this color & it looks amazing on her – I also love it – especially when I go back to black hair. It’s a deep color but still vibrant. $14.00

3. Illamasqua Lipstick in Underworld – this lipstick is only sold at Sephora. I tried this brand I’ve never even heard of but saw the color & needed it. It’s this briiiight purple color – AMAZING on. Try it please! $20

4. Sephora Collection Long Lasting Eyeliner - I never really use Sephora brand except one of their mascaras which I’ve been given for free because of my points I get for shopping there – but I wanted a new eyeliner that didn’t come off as easily as my Loreal so I tried this – it’s amazing. Great brush to apply either a super thin or thicker line & it didn’t come off throughout the day but comes off easily with eye makeup remover! – $10

Hope you guys enjoyed and will try some of these products