Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Review

Hey beauties,

It’s been forever since I last posted but I’m back with a product that I’ve been loving for some months now. I must preface this post by stating that I am a huge fan of gel nail polish but sometimes I just don’t have the time to visit the salon to get them done.I discovered the Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy at Starlite Pharmacy last December and I fell in love with it.

The promise *according to the website*

Create salon-quality color in 38 vibrant colors with our revolutionary 2-step system. Brush on the base + color in one, and then finish with the protective ColorStay Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat™ for superior strength. Together, they create vivid color, diamond-like shine and gorgeous life-resistant wear.

The reality

I love this product!Two easy steps to gel quality nails at home, what more can one ask for.I particularly appreciate that the base and color is an all in one product.This saves a lot of drying time, which is already quite fast with this product.I love the square tipped brush, this helps me apply the color evenly and with precision.The product however does not last as long as gel nail polish,but it comes pretty close. Depending on your lifestyle you will get 5 days of chip free color. It also gives you that shiny finish like salon gel polish.You can also easily remove it with regular nail polish.Take a look at my small collection below. I give this product 5/5 stars. It retails for $40 TTD and can also be purchased online here.

Have you tried the Revlon Colorstay Gel Eny? What are your thoughts ? Comment below 🙂

Until next time

xoxo

CG

Guest Post : What to pack for the road by De Lujo Bags by Jhodi

So you getting ready to leave the house Carnival Monday morning to make yuh name on the streets of Port of Spain but yuh not sure if you have everything you need apart from the costume yuh have on.

For the average female masquerader, it is hard to function on the road all day without these Top 7 Essentials.

1. Sunblock.Now before you leave home you must put on some sunblock even before you fully get dressed and have your make up done, but you need to take some with you on the road to re-apply during the day. We won’t want you to end up three times your regular complexion Ash Wednesday.
2. Lipstick/lip gloss. It is hard to re do a full face of makeup on the road while having a time with your friends (hopefully before you left home you remembered to use some fix it spray to keep your face intact).However, a pop of colour to the lips can brighten up your entire face, so walk with your lipstick.
3. Blotting paper. You on the road whole day in the hot sun, so you bound to buss a sweat. But for some of us, when the cameras are around, we’re hiding because our face looking lil greasy. Walk with a pack of blotting paper to blot the oil off of your face so that you don’t have to hide from the camera man who passing or duck the videographers when you crossing the stage.
4. Vex money. Always have that emergency money incase of anything. We don’t want you to be stranded on the road Monday or Tuesday night after you’ve finished having a good time and you’ve lost your crew. Have that extra cash in the event that you have to take a taxi.

4. Cellphone/substitute phone known as a “me too”. Don’t leave home without your phone on a full battery.Carnival Monday and Tuesday many people leave their “bess” phones at home aka their Samsung, iPhone, HTC or  brand name smartphones at home and walk with a “me too” aka Blu phone.
5. Wet wipes/tissue. Sometimes when you have to use a public washroom there may be no paper to clean up afterwards. Ensure that you have some wet wipes or tissue in the occasion that you find yourself stranded in a toilet without any.
6. Hand Sanitizer. I like to keep my hands nice and clean, even without having access to water. So walk with some hand sanitizer in case you can’t access any water. Getting sick after Carnival from germs u pick up is not a good way to end the Carnival season. So even if you don’t have access to water, keep your hands clean by sanitizing.

So you need all the things mentioned above but where are you going to put them? Walking with a cute Carnival bag to strap across your body or around your wrist to hold all these essentials can make things a lot easier. Luckily for you De Lujo Bags can provide you with the perfect bags for the road to hold everything you need to take you throughout the day.

Check out De Lujo Bags by Jhodi on Facebook to order your customized bag for the road 🙂

Easy Cellulite Free Coffee Scrub DIY

Hey beauties,

With Carnival fast approaching in Trinidad and Tobago, most ladies are hitting the gyms to get their body toned and costume ready. One major concern for some is cellulite.Now cellulite is fatty deposits under the skin which gives an unsightly dimpled effect. An easy way to reduce the appearance of cellulite is with coffee. Caffeine when applied topically provides the skin with anti-oxidants and stimulates the blood flow, which when applied over time diminishes cellulite.Here is an easy DIY Coffee scrub that you can do weekly in the shower.

What you will need

salt,coffee,extra virgin olive oil and white sugar 

In a plastic bowl combine the ingredients until you create a paste using the olive oil as a binding agent.You can make enough for one use and store the left overs in the fridge.

*Use this scrub once a week in the shower and you will instantly notice a different in the texture of your legs.

Have you ever tried a coffee scrub for cellulite? Comment below

Until next time

xoxo

CG

Get Fit and Healthy in 2015 : Top 5 tips

Hey beauties,

Happy New Year and Happy 2015. Now I’m not one to focus too much on New Year resolutions but I do believe in goal setting. One of my main goals this year is to maintain and improve the results I achieved fitness – wise last year. This year I want to continue to transform my body into my “dream body”. I also know many of you are in Carnival mode and want to whip your bodies into shape. My advice is to do so in the most healthy way possible and we all know crash dieting and starving ourselves is not the best way. I’ve compiled top 5 to help you achieve your fitness goals in 2015.

Tip 1 : Write down your fitness goals

As with any goal it is important to write it down to stay focused. I recommend writing this goal down on a post-it and placing it on your mirror.

Tip 2: Create a fitness vision board

The purpose of this board is to encourage you to remain focused. It should also be placed somewhere where it can be seen on a daily basis. Cut out pictures,quotes,recipes or anything you need to help motivate you to your goal. Take before and after pictures as well and place it on the board.

Also with technology vision boards can be done digitally for laptops and smart phones. I currently use this free app from http://myvisionboard.com

Tip 3: Create meal plans

I intend to do a full post on meal planning but trust me ,meal planning will take away 75% of the stress of eating healthy. Purchase your tupperware and set aside a day to plan your meals for the week, I like Sundays for this. Plan every meal,from breakfast to dinner. Freeze these meals and stick to eating these healthy meals for the week.

Tip 4: Enjoy your workouts

Life is too short not to enjoy what you’re doing on a daily basis. Find a workout routine which not only works for your body type but what you enjoy. This month I’ve added early morning yoga to my workout routine and I must say I’m loving it so far. I can choose to do a yoga workout for as short as 30 mins and I feel less stressed and more flexible for the rest of the day which also prepares me for my afternoon workout. So smile when you burn those calories.

Tip 5: Cheat !!!

Yes I said it …Cheat ! This may be the only instance where I condone cheating but let’s face it, we’re only human and being human means we sometimes crave unhealthy yummy food. Whether it be pizza, ice cream or chocolate, I say cheat but with everything in life do so in moderation. It makes absolutely no sense to eat clean all week to then overindulge on the weekend. Cheat smart and cheat in moderation.

Do you have any fitness goals for 2015? Any tips for staying healthy? Comment below 

Until next time

xoxo

CG

A Caribbean Girl’s Christmas Fashion Essentials

Hello beauties,

This month I’ll be writing Christmas themed blogs because Christmas comes once a year and it’s time to celebrate in style (pun intended).We’re talking fashion in this blog post because we all have those Christmas staff parties, dinners and limes to attend but with the hustle and bustle of the season we’re faced with the dilemma of “what to wear”.Here are a few wardrobe essentials for the season. Hopefully these will make your lives a little bit easier.

Little Black or Red Dress

Worried about what to wear to that staff party ? Want to look classy but yet sexy try a LBD or a LRD.These dresses come in variety of styles. My personal favourite is the lace dress because it reminds me of that timeless classic beauty.

Strappy Sandals

Give the pumps a rest and go for a strappy sandal this holiday season. Strappy sandals can be dressed up for nighttime and dressed down with jeans depending on the occasion.

Dazzling Clutches

There is something about the holidays that screams glitz and glamour.A sparkling clutch is the perfect accessory to add some glamour to your look for the holidays.

Statement Necklaces

 Statement necklaces can be used to accessorize simple outfits and to add that special “wow factor” to any outfit for the holiday season.

What are your Christmas fashion essentials? Comment below

Until next time

xoxo

CG

My Small Makeup and Skincare Haul

Hey beauties,

I’ve recently purchased a couple much needed beauty and skin care items. I’ll start with skin care. These items were purchased at Starlite Drugs. My skin has been breaking out a lot lately. Partly due to poor diet choices and largely due to stress. So I’ve made an effort to get rid of those factors but I’ve also decided to re-vamp my entire skin care routine. I truly believe that some products just don’t work for your skin, so sometimes we need to try something new. So far I’ve been seeing great results from these products. My breakouts have lessened and my skin feels great. Another key thing I have done for my skin is resume my monthly facials. I’ve found that this is ideal in maintaining the health of your skin.

 

1. Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser (with Salicylic Acid)

2. Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub (with Salicylic Acid)

3. Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner

I also visited Wonderful World to pick up a couple makeup items.

• L.A Colors Chunky Lip Pencil in Plum.I love this product so far and I’m definitely going to get the other colors in the collection.It gives you the look of a lip gloss whilst keeping your lips moisturized.

•  City Color Be Matte Lipstick in Lana. My new obsession is Matte Lipsticks so I’m also working on building my matte lipstick collection. What is better than a lipstick that doesn’t move? lol

 

• L.A Girl Pro Concealer HD in Fawn and Toffee. Ok these foundations live up to the hype and for the cost I’d say it’s an amazing product. I’ve stopped using my M.A.C concealers because I honestly think these are better.

Have you tried any of these products? What are your thoughts….comment below 🙂

Until next time

xoxo

CG

My Favourite Foundations

Hey beauties,

If I got a penny for every time I was asked what foundation I was wearing, let’s just say I’ll be able to buy all the makeup my heart desired lol. Finding that perfect foundation( especially for varied skin tones like us Caribbean girls ) is like finding true love to me. It delights your heart and makes you never want to let go. I’ve been fortunate to find 3 true loves (foundations) in my current lifetime. These are my “go to” foundations after much experimentation and epic failures. In no particular order, because I use them all for different reasons, here are my Top 3 favourite foundations.

1. Revlon Colourstay 24 hrs Combination/ Oily Skin

This foundation is the perfect everyday foundation but it can also be used as a staple foundation for someone who is now getting into makeup. The price ranges from $60 – $80 TTD depending on where you purchase it. It is lightweight but yet buildable for medium to full coverage. It promises to last for 24 hrs but I’ve honestly never worn foundation for such an extended period of time to know if that works. What I can say is that it leaves your skin with a matte finish and the different shades available are known to match your skin perfectly. This is a really great foundation, especially for the price.

2. L’oreal True Match

This is my “night, but not special occasion foundation.” This foundation also gives full coverage with a matte finish.The price range is similar to the Revlon Colorstay ( $60-$80 TTD). The shade matches my complexion well but not as perfect as the Colorstay, if that makes any sense.

3. M.A.C Studio Fix

This is my “special occasion” foundation. I was a bit skeptical about buying this foundation because it is pricey but I can honestly say it is worth it. I purchased this foundation directly from the MAC store last year and it was $250 TTD I believe. Yes it is expensive! It will however last a while and it will give you a flawless finish. A little also goes a long way, so there is no need to be heavy handed with this product. This foundation is also great for person’s with oily/combination skin as it controls shine.

“Mac’s Studio Fix Foundation applied with a beauty sponge”

What are your favorite foundations? Have you used any of my favourite foundations? Let me know your thoughts and comments below 🙂

Until next time

xoxo

CG

Stay tuned for next week’s post ” How I style my Wonderwall TT pieces”

The Beauty Sponge Review

 

The beauty sponge has revolutionized the way I apply my foundation. Now, there are different methods of applying foundation using tools such as brushes, cosmetic wedges or even fingers. The beauty sponge has trumped all these methods in my opinion, in terms of providing that flawless foundation application.

There are many brands of beauty sponges on the market including the market leader the” Beauty Blender”.

 

 

I’ve personally never tried the Beauty Blender because I am totally satisfied with the generic sponges,for half the price. The one brand I want to try is the Real Techniques beauty sponge ( which is available at Starlite Drugs for my Trinibagonian readers). This sponge has gotten amazing reviews from the social media sphere and I must admit I want to test it out for myself.

 

How to use the Beauty Sponge 

1. Dampen your beauty sponge under running water 
2. Squeeze excess water
3. Place the necessary amount of foundation on the back of your hand
4. Dip small amounts of foundation to your face at a time based on your desired coverage
5. Gently pat your face with the sponge ,using the slimmer portions for the contours of your face (e.g nose bridge)
6. Blend, Blend, Blend !

 

Blending is very important with any foundation application but because the beauty blender is such an innovative tool, although easy to use, can be used incorrectly.

Have you tried the beauty sponge? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

 

Until next time

xoxo

CG

 

 

 

 

New Product Review: Batiste Dry Shampoo

The Dry Shampoo was first launched in the 1970’s and was introduced in the form of talcum powder. The purpose of dry Shampoo is to remove excess grease and oil from your hair therefore increasing the time period between washes. It is a product which is especially useful for ladies who lead busy and active lifestyles, which in modern times is almost every woman. It can also be used on different hair types -which is great for the multi ethnic society which we live in, where textures range from pin straight to curly.

 

Distributed by Oscar Francois Limited, the Batiste Dry Shampoo has hit the local market. Although not as popular locally, it has gained popularity internationally from beauty bloggers as one of the most raved about hair products of the year.

 

This product is sold in 5 different scents; Original, Blush, Cherry, Fresh and Tropical. The price of the 200ml ranges from $32 -$38 and the 50 ml travel size version ranges from $20- $23.

 

The product promises to revitalize hair and remove extra grease leaving hair clean and fresh with added body and texture. My interest in this product was primarily because of my workout schedule. I simply was not finding the time to wash my hair more than once a week but I still wanted my hair to feel and smell clean in between washes. I decided I will try the original scent and it used it for the first time after a week of workouts to ensure that it was going to be effective. If it could refresh my hair after a week of hectic workouts then I would be sold. The directions were simple:

 

1. Spray onto roots

 

2. Massage thoroughly with fingertips

 

3. Style

 

It also directs you to hold the can at least 30 cm away from your hair. This is an important instruction as it can affect how much product you actually spray onto your hair. You definitely do not need a heavy hand with this product. When you first use it, you will notice a powdery residue but this is why you need to massage the product in. Do not be alarmed, it disappears when you brush your hair. After massaging the product in, I brushed my hair thoroughly. I was pleasantly surprised by the instant results. The scent is also a very crisp, fresh scent and it is not overpowering. Not only was the scent of my hair pleasant but my hair was light and bouncy .The product absorbed all the excess oil and it looked like freshly washed hair. It no longer looked and felt limp or weighed down. This product is definite must for anyone who needs that quick fix in between washes or just needs to a quick refresh. I was sold and I cannot wait to try out the different scents.

 

The Batiste Dry Shampoo can be purchased at Yips Superstore, RED Edge Shopping Centre, Hair World ( Curepe) , Bhagan’s Drugs Price Plaza , Tobago Pharmacy and at the various Pennywise Cosmetics outlets nationwide.

 

Until next time

xoxo

CG

 

5 Natural Ways to Treat Sunburn

Hey beauties,

When we think of the Caribbean , we think sun , sea and sand….. which is great for the beach , pool and lounging on a yacht but can be damaging to our skin. Spending too much time in the sun without skin protection in one day can not only cause long term damage but can cause the dreaded and painful sunburn.Remember no matter the colour of your skin if it is exposed to direct sunlight it is still at risk of getting skin cancer, discoloration and wrinkles. This is why sunblock is so important .But just in case you’ve spent a bit too much time in the sun ,here are 5 natural ways to treat and soothe your sunburnt skin.

1. Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel has anti inflammatory properties and will provide temporary relief to affected areas.

2. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera gel will soothe the affected areas and ease pain and peeling.

3. Fat Free Milk

Soak a cloth with milk and cold water and apply to soothe affected areas.

4.Oatmeal

Wrap oatmeal in a cloth and soak in cool water for 5 mins. Discard the liquid and the oats and apply to soothe affected areas.

5. Yogurt

Apply plain yogurt to soothe affected areas for 10 mins. Rinse off and pat dry.

Until next time

xoxo

CG