Tiffany Talks Beauty...

Question of the Day????

2010-09-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

How do you keep up with beauty news, information about new products and current trends? Obviously, I'm a fan of the blog. There are a few blogs that I check daily for beauty news. I even have the RSS feeds sent to my Blackberry. I also like to watch YouTube videos for application tips and tutorials. So how do you get your news? Blogs, magazines or word of mouth?

My Apologies...

2010-09-28T14:39:00.000-07:00

I'm so sorry for the lack of posts lately, it's just that.... who am I kidding? I've been slacking. I've tried a lot of new products since I last posted and there's so much to share with you all. So, with that said, let's talk some beauty...

Celeb Style

2010-07-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

photo courtesy of Clutch Magazine

I *heart* Nia Long. Seriously. I think she is one of the most slept on, underrated actresses in Hollywood. Nia has been in the game for 20 years and has managed to stay off of gossip blogs and off the paparazzi radar, keeping it classy all the while. Not only is she known for her film and television work but her sense of style and fashion cannot be denied.

Nia Long first appeared on the acting scene with her role as Kat Speakes on The Guiding Light in 1991. From there we loved her as Will Smith's girlfriend, Lisa on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She continued to delight us in numerous roles on the big screen, including: Made In America, Boyz N the Hood, Love Jones, Soul Food, The Best Man, The Boiler Room, Big Momma's House and countless others.

photo courtesy of Clutch Magazine
In addition to acting, Nia channels her creativity into music videos. She directed Yolanda Adams video for 'This Too Shall Pass' and has appeared in Ashanti's 'Baby', Chico Debarge's 'Iggin' Me' and Kanye West's 'Touch the Sky'. In 2000, Nia was chosen as one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People and she bared all in 2009 for PETA's I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur campaign.

When it comes to style, Nia never disappoints. She is always a vision of polished perfection on the red carpet. With her glowing skin and fabulous fashion, Nia always serves sexy, elegant glamour wherever she is spotted. Please check out the beautiful Miss Nia Long...

I Want to Get Naked... with Urban Decay

2010-07-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

Urban Decay has just released their Naked eyeshadow palette and I have to say, that I'm dying to get my hands on it. I prefer neutral eyeshadow shades and this palette is packed with every neutral shadow imaginable. Just think of all the looks you can create with this palette and it will easily take you from daytime casual to nighttime glam... The Naked Palette was so popular at debut, that it sold out on Sephora's website and is STILL unavailable on Urban Decay's site. Fortunately, this little gem is permanent.

The Rundown:

12 Neutral shades ranging from champagne to dark featuring textures from glitter to shimmer to matte.
Also included is a double-ended 24/7 glide on eye pencil in Zero (black) and Whiskey (dark brown).
A travel sized primer potion in original is also included. This stuff is awesome-ness in a bottle. That is all.

Urban Decay's Naked Palette retails for $44 and is available now at Sephora stores as well as Sephora.com. It should also be available soon on urbandecay.com.

Question of the Day????

2010-07-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

When it comes to shopping for cosmetics and beauty products do you prefer to shop online, at the drugstore or at department store counters? Do you like to look for beauty bargains at places like the Cosmetics Company Outlet? Do tell, ladies...

Question of the Day????

2010-05-02T17:08:00.000-07:00

Do vitamins or supplements play a role in your beauty regimen? I know many women take Skin, Hair & Nail vitamins, Biotin and Prenatal vitamins to boost hair and nail growth. I can honestly say that since I've been taking Prenatal vitamins, I've seen a significant difference in my hair and nails. What vitamins or supplements do you take? What changes have you seen?

In the Nude...

2010-04-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

Nude lips are a classic look... anything but boring. A nude lip can be done with natural makeup for a casual, every day look or be paired with a dramatic, smoky eye for a more glam face. Though it may look easy, pulling off the perfect nude can be tricky, especially for women of color. Nude is a matter of perception. When searching for your perfect shade, keep in mind that the average nude may not be the one for you.

The right nude shade should look subtle and fresh. If the wrong shade is chosen, it could wash you out...making you look 'corpse like'. Not a good look. Your perfect nude should match your complexion flawlessly and for darker beauties that could be bronze, berry, deep brown or warm pink.

Try on lots of shades when searching for your perfect nude. Consider the undertones of your complexion and the natural tone of you lips. Also, inspect your shade in different settings. It may look good in your bedroom or bathroom but look a hot, horrible mess outside in natural light.

With that said, go forth and conquer the nude lip! Good luck on finding your perfect shade!

Here are some nudes to try, in no particular order:

*MAC Saplicious lipgelee
*MAC Revealing lipglass
*MAC Entice lipglass
*MAC Spite lipglass
*MAC Beaux lustreglass
*MAC Half & Half lipstick
*MAC Touch lipstick
*MAC Viva Glam V lipstick
*MAC Fresh Brew lipstick
*Revlon Coffee Bean lipstick
*Revlon Matte Mauve It Over lipstick
*L'Oreal Tawny Infallible lipgloss
*L'Oreal Deep Nude Color Riche lipgloss
*Clinique Glow Bronze lipstick
*Clinique Tenderheart lipstick
*Clinique Rhubarbie lip smoothie
*NARS Butterfield 8 lip lacquer
*NARS Chelsea Girls lip lacquer
*Estee Lauder Sugar Honey lipstick

****for Angelique ;-)

Celeb Style

2010-04-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

She will forever be known to us as Rudy Huxtable... but as you can see, Keshia Knight-Pulliam has grown up into a beautiful woman!

Keshia started her acting career at the tender age of three on Sesame Street, earned the role of Rudy Huxtable at five and became the youngest actress ever to be nominated for an Emmy at age six. Since her years on The Cosby Show, Keshia has appeared in several films, television shows and music videos. She is also a graduate of Spelman College, receiving a degree in sociology.

So many times we hear of child stars growing up and getting into trouble or having all kinds of issues but it seems that Keshia has managed not to fall into that trap. She seems to have a good head on her shoulders and carry herself with class at all times. I've also noticed that whenever this lady sets foot onto a red carpet, she always looks fab! Her style is impeccable, makeup is always fresh and the hair stays flawless... Check her out

You can now catch Keshia on Tyler Perry's House of Payne

What I'm Loving Right Now...

2010-04-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

Random fact about me: I love baby products... more specifically, lotion and body wash. I don't know what it is about baby products but I feel that if its good enough for a baby, its good enough for me! My infatuation with baby products led me to try the Body Shop's baby line, Buriti Baby... and its no surprise, that I'm in love.

I've tried the body butter and baby wash and both are fabulous. The scent is a very soft floral and the overall feel of both products is great. The baby wash creates a silky lather and leaves your skin feeling soft and clean. The body butter (my favorite) sinks into your skin without feeling heavy or greasy. I've found the body butter to be perfect for my dry skin but there is also a lotion for those with normal skin.

The main ingredient in these products is an oil from the Buriti tree which is found in the Amazonian rain forest. The Body Shop says that the oil helps to 'nourish, nurture and protect baby's skin' and that's totally true... well, for my skin at least! Whether you're using the products for your baby or yourself, I really don't think that you'll be disappointed.

What I Love:
*These products are both pediatrician and dermatologist tested
*The products are made without any 'nasties'... free of alcohol and artificial colors
*Soft fragrance is wonderful and will not compete with your favorite perfume

Right now these products are buy one, get one 50% off, so you can try the products without spending a fortune.

You can find the Buriti Baby products at The Body Shop stores and also www.thebodyshop.com

InStyle Magazine 150 Best Beauty Buys

2010-04-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

This month, InStyle magazine's 15th annual Best Beauty Buys issue hits the stands. I look forward to this issue every year. Its a great resource for beauty beginners and enthusiasts alike, whether you're looking to replace products in your stash or just beginning your beauty product journey.

InStyle does a great job of making everything easy. The categories are broken down into: Makeup, Skin, Body and Hair. There are subcategories within those along with a description of each beauty buy listed. The issue also includes a 'Perfect Makeup Match' guide, which lists the ideal makeup products and shades for each skintone as well as a shopping guide that you can tear out and take with you on your next beauty run.

The products listed range from budget conscious to pricey and gives information on where you can buy each product. InStyle is even offering 20% off on select products. Do you get into InStyle's Best Beauty Buys? What products have you tried?

You can pick up this month's InStyle wherever magazines are sold or go to www.instyle.com for the listing of beauty buys editors picks.

The Mascara Diaries... Chapter 3

2010-04-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

In the never - ending quest to find the perfect mascara, I present to you chapter three of The Mascara Diaries. In this chapter, we meet Enormous Lash Mascara by Beauty Society. I received this mascara in a set that came with Enormous Lash Eyelash Enhancing Serum, Enormous Lash mascara, Brow Doctor brow gel and Draw the Line liquid eyeliner.

What it Claims: A clump-free mascara that builds, lengthens and separates lashes, with an extra-large fluffy brush head for maximum performance. An extremely long-wearing mascara that also contains the Enormous Lash patented ingredients that work to increase the length and thickness of your own eyelashes.

What it actually does: I wasn't impressed at all with this mascara. Its true that it didn't clump but I don't feel that it did much of anything else either. I found the formula to be very 'wet'. I didn't notice much length, volume, separation or definition. I used this mascara for about a month and a half and just couldn't find anything to like about it.

I am still using the Enormous Lash Eyelash Enhancing Serum and I will report those results soon. Enormous Lash mascara is available on the Nordstrom website as well as www.beautysociety.com

Question of the Day????

2010-04-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

I know there are some every day beauty products that you absolutely can't live without. What are your top 5? The ones you use every day and stay in your cosmetics bag at all times?

Mine are:
1. Mineral Powder
2. Lip balm
3. Lip gloss
4. Blush
5. Mascara

What's your top 5?

Question of the Day????

2010-03-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

In recent years, the beauty industry has been flooded with natural & organic products. Brands like Bare Escentuals, Tarte, Josie Maran and Juice Beauty are all about beauty products and cosmetics without nasty, harmful chemicals. My questions for you all are, Do you think natural and organic products are better? Do you think that this is just a trend? Do tell...

What I'm Loving Right Now...

2010-03-21T17:23:00.000-07:00

While looking at different hair care blogs, I kept seeing a certain leave-in conditioner getting rave reviews. My first thought? 'Eh, don't believe the hype'... But this product kept popping up. I finally decided to try Giovanni Direct Leave-In conditioner and I'm so glad that I did.
Now, I'll tell you, leave-in conditioner is an essential product in my hair care routine and I'm very particular about hair products. Previously, I was using Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-In and I was very happy with it... but I think Giovanni may be taking Neutrogena's place. I've used the product twice and I can say that it gives great slip, leaves my hair super soft and feels weightless. I definitely plan on trying other products from the Giovanni line.

I Love:
* That Giovanni Direct Leave-in is inexpensive... about $7 at Target
* That its certified organic and made from all natural ingredients
* That it works for relaxed and natural textures

Giovanni hair and body products can be found at Ulta, Target, WalMart as well as many other online retailers.
Have you tried Giovanni Direct Leave-In conditioner? What was your experience?

Seasons Change...

2010-03-21T17:04:00.000-07:00

Warm weather brings on many changes. As the snow melts and the gray skies turn into sunshine, we shed our heavy winter coats for cooler clothing and trade our boots for sandals. With all the changes made to our wardrobe, how else do you adapt to the warm weather? Do you change your skincare or cosmetic routine with the season? Do you ditch your neutral tones for summery brights? Maybe opt for a lighter fragrance?
Let me know...

NARS Orgasm vs. MAC Lovejoy

2010-03-04T18:07:00.000-08:00

A good blush does a lot for the face. When the right shade is chosen, blush not only adds color, but it can help brighten your face and give a healthy, luminous glow. Along with mascara, blush is a favorite of mine and its a product I use every day. Let's take a look at the two blushes I use most often, NARS Orgasm and MAC Mineralize blush in Lovejoy.

I've been using the MAC blush for over a year and I find that its my go to, every day blush. Its actually made me fall in love with the MAC Mineralize blushes and I plan on trying more shades.
I just picked up the NARS Orgasm in December, though its been around for a long time. If you're up on your makeup game, you'll know that this particular shade of NARS blush is a cult favorite with a HUGE following. NARS Orgasm has been the subject of many beauty blog write ups, won awards and has been made into other cosmetics in the same shade.

I must admit that I was very excited to try Orgasm after hearing so many raves and good reviews. The shade is supposed to be universally flattering and mimic that certain, special afterglow. Sephora.com describes the blush as 'the perfect peachy-pink flush that subtly highlights with accents of a golden shimmer'. Well, after wearing for a few weeks, I noticed that I had to apply a lot for it to show up. It is very sheer. I also noticed that the blush disappeared after about two hours... I was kind of disappointed. Is Orgasm all hype and no action?

I went back to MAC Lovejoy. This blush debuted as part of MAC's Sonic Chic collection and is now a permanent fixture. It is described as a warm, mid-tone brown with gold pearl. I'd say its more of a dirty rose than brown. This blush is very pigmented but depending on application, you can make it as sheer or as deep as you want. I feel that Lovejoy gives me a perfect flushed, luminous glow. Also, this blush lasts until the end of they day! (And I work 12 hour shifts!)

Honestly, I'm very disappointed in NARS Orgasm. Maybe my expectations were too high... I don't know. I'm still interested in the other Orgasm products, (lipgloss, nail polish, skin illuminator and 3-in-1 color stick) even though I didn't have luck with the blush.

Be advised, I'm not saying that MAC Lovejoy is a dupe for Orgasm. If you're looking for a color that matches Orgasm, I hear that Milani Luminous, MAC Springsheen and .mark Afterglow are good comparisons.

NARS Orgasm can be found at Sephora stores, sephora.com, NARS cosmetics counters and www.narscosmetics.com.

MAC Mineralize blush in Lovejoy can be found at MAC cosmetics counters and www.maccosmetics.com

Orgasm on the left, Lovejoy on the right.

Have you tried NARS Orgasm? What do think of MAC Mineralize blushes?

The Mascara Diaries... Chapter 2

2010-02-28T18:53:00.000-08:00

In the next chapter of the Mascara Diaries, we meet Estee Lauder Projectionist. This is what I was faithfully using before Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous. Overall, this is a great mascara but there are a few cons.

What It Claims: Provides volume without weight. Projects thicker, longer, more defined and lustrous lashes. Distinct definition.

What It Actually Does: It does all of the above BUT it does have a tendency to clump and I saw some flakes under my eyes after a few hours. I also found that this mascara seems to dry out fairly quickly.

I paired this mascara with Estee Lauder's Lash Primer Plus and it 'beefed' up my lashes a little more.

In a nutshell, I like this mascara. Its not perfect, but it provides a voluminous yet defined lash look. If you're looking for a department store mascara, give Estee Lauder Projectionist a shot. If you've tried it already, what are your thoughts?

Both Projectionist mascara and Lash Primer Plus are available at Estee Lauder counters as well as www.esteelauder.com

What I'm Loving Right Now...

2010-02-25T14:09:00.000-08:00

ECO TOOLS BAMBOO BRONZER BRUSH

I'll admit it... I used to be a brush snob. I always thought that you had to have high-end, expensive brushes to achieve a perfect makeup application. Well, EcoTools has changed all that. More specifically, EcoTools Bamboo Bronzer brush. This brush is absolutely amazing! It has to be the softest brush I've ever felt. Its meant for use with bronzing powder but I use it with my mineral powder foundation. Its made from recycled, natural materials and its dense bristles of the brush give a perfect, airbrushed look.

EcoTools brushes come individually and in sets. You can find them at mass food and drug retailers.

L'OREAL HIP KOHL EYELINER

My good friend, Rosie, recently turned me on these little gems. They are L'Oreal HIP Kohl Eyeliners. I bought 2 of the six vibrant colors... they also come in navy, brown, gold and teal. I do need to warn you first, application can be tricky so you may want to practice a few times to get the hang of it. There are many tutorials on YouTube that I found extremely helpful.

Also, since this is kohl powder, you will get some fallout on application. I recommend that you tap off excess powder before applying, and maybe do your eyes first. That way, if you do get some of the powder on your face, you can clean it up with a Q-tip and some makeup remover and proceed with your foundation.

L'Oreal HIP Kohl Eyeliners can be found at mass food & drug retailers nationwide and range from $10.99 - $13.99

What are you loving right now?

The Mascara Diaries... Chapter 1

2010-02-24T16:27:00.000-08:00

I am always searching for the perfect mascara... its a never ending story. Over the years, I must have gone through hundreds of different mascaras. I've even given some a second chance! For me, mascara is one of those products that I cannot be without. I've decided to start a series called 'The Mascara Diaries' because I know that I'll continue to buy and try out different mascaras. What can I say? I'm a product junkie!

In our first entry of the Mascara Diaries, we meet Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous mascara. Honestly, I can't say enough about this mascara. I like volume and length in a mascara, I go for the 'false eyelash' look and Lash Stiletto Voluptuous provides just that. The cool, S-shaped brush is the key to providing a fabulous lash look. It grabs the lashes and pulls them upward, separating and lengthening, giving you a feathery fringe. The mascara formula itself is also pretty nice. Its not too heavy or wet, nor does it weigh down the lashes.

Have you tried Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous? What are your thoughts?

Dove Cream Oil Body Shea Butter Lotion

2010-02-24T16:10:00.000-08:00

Along with cold weather, winter also brings along dry skin. I always opt for a richer lotion to keep my already dry skin, smooth and moisturized. Dove's Cream Oil Shea Butter Lotion has become my new fave. The cream oil formula is fast absorbing and non-greasy. Naturally rich shea butter provides extra hydration and it smells absolutely heavenly. Use this lotion daily during the winter months and I promise, your skin will thank you for it!

Dove Cream Oil Shea Butter Body Lotion is available at food and drug retailers nationwide.
You can also visit www.dove.com for more information.

Clinique Superbalanced Powder Makeup

2010-02-24T15:52:00.000-08:00

I adore Clinique and have been using their products since high school. So there wasn't a question as to whether I would try their new Superbalanced Powder Makeup with SPF 15.

What It Claims: "Smart" technology balances combination skin, long-wearing, mineral enriched, provides a natural, skin-perfecting look

What It Actually Does: All of the above!! I have been wearing this powder for about 5 months and I can honestly say that this product has achieved 'Holy Grail' status! The mineral formula feels very light and coverage is buildable. The 'grinder' compact dispenses the amount of powder needed, keeping waste at a minimum. My only complaint is the included brush... I would absolutely recommend that you use a better quality brush.

Clinique Superbalanced Powder Makeup is available in eight shades and is available at Clinique counters.

WELCOME!!

2010-02-24T15:43:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to my blog. Here, its all about beauty... whether its cosmetics & products, fashion or the beauty found in every day life. I am always the 'beauty advisor' to all of my friends, so I started this blog to share my passion with all of you. Hope you enjoy...