Shop Talk : The Beauty Spot

This edition of Shop Talk will be about a relatively new store that has me basically mesmerized - enough to have me going back to spend money twice in one week. My gripe with Jamaica is that we have such a small selection of beauty products that is rarely consistent and even more rarely up to date. Thankfully, someone heard my plea and opened "The Beauty Spot" a quaint little store located on Brompton Avenue (behind Spartan Gym).

They basically have everything - brushes to skin care to makeup to nail polish. Their feature brand is Maybelline but they also sell Mac, Urban Decay, Nars, Sleek, Inglot, Milani, Too Faced, Iman, Mary Kay, OCC,  BH Cosmetics and many more. If you are searching for new products on the market this is where you can find it.

I picked up a couple nail polishes, a duo fibre blush brush, replaced my black kohl liner and picked up a coloured liquid liner. I got a complimentary makeup bag with an attached mirror inside and I am super happy with the quality and the presentation of the products.

A couple things I am lusting after that are there are the Urban Decay Naked palette, a couple shadows from Inglot, the OCC lip tars (*squeal*), a Nars blush and a Brush set. I'm sure that list will have additions pretty soon because they add new stock pretty often.

The customer service at the Beauty Spot is unrivaled. When you walk in you are greeted with a smile and a warm welcome, parking is secure and unlike a certain store the sales clerk doesn't remind you of a pushy car salesman. I wasn't at all intimidated by her but it felt like I was chatting with a girlfriend about makeup. She asked me what I liked and what I had tried, she even took a few suggestions I had for products as well as told me what she had tried out and what worked for her. Perfect balance of knowledgeable and open to learning more.

They open Monday to Saturday and are located in Suite #2 of the Spartan Wellness Centre at 1 Brompton Road Kingston 5. You can call them at 63105507/288-2194. I am not affiliated with them nor am I sponsored by them I am just a big fan because I like what they're doing and I want to support them.

You can follow them on Facebook here. They are having a contest to search for the next Maybelline make up artist to be selected right out of our little island. Get excited! lol. But for real, pass by and check it out. You won't be disappointed. 

They were nice enough to let me snap some quick pictures. Check them out below.

Till later,
**Jane

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Orange You Lovely - Spring/Summer Makeup Trend

A trend I am loving for this Spring/Summer is orange. A long time fan of the amazing wonders of orange blush I was glad to see everyone grabbing at it. I have said this more than once and I will say it again - any blush with an orange base is a black woman's best friend. Please add this to your collection, you will not be sorry.

Alright, that said if you're new to the trend it can be intimidating. It's best to apply with a light hand and focus on one area of your face before you go 'pro'. 

Lips

Orange lips are really hot right now and luckily, you can pick up a tube of lipstick for as little as $300 to test out the trend. For a subtle look, dot on the colour and smooth out with your fingers. A sheer golden or nude gloss will also make it a little more wearable. 

If you live life on the bolder side, apply the colour with a lip brush over nude lipliner and wear out with a dark cat eye and bold brows.

Try m'orange from MAC or Haute topic from Sacha Cosmetics.

Blush

I am trying my hardest not to ramble on and on about this but it is HARD. Orange blush does double duty, it gives you that glow from within as well as the effect of a contour or bronzer. Applied with a light hand it has the effect of candlelit glow and it's colour on dark skin when subtle is not as noticeable as pink based blushes. The golden element in the blush will also give a nice glow without looking greasy.

If you want a bolder look go easy on the eyes and the lips and let the blush take centre stage. You will look rosy and fresh-faced. If you end up going too heavy then you can always pare it down by adding gold highlighter.

Try Golden Sunset from Arista or Nars Taj Mahal.

Eyeshadow

Now this is where it can get tricky. Go for an eyeshadow that has more of a gold base or a coppery base. It will look less harsh especially when blended out with a matte brown shadow. And, if you want a bolder look, wet your brush and pat it on then blend out around the edges with a golden colour.

Try NYX I dream of St Lucia  or MAC Rule

I'm pretty excited to see this trend out and about. Will you be giving it a try? Leave a comment and let me know.

Till later,

**Jane

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Review: Essie No Chips Ahead Top Coat (Jane Approved)

If you follow me on twitter you would have been subjected to my constant raving about this product. I scored it at Discount Beauty Centre in Kings Plaza some time ago and I have fallen in love since the first time I applied it.

My search for a good top coat got serious after my most recent encounter with shallac. After removal my nails were weak and brittle and full of ridges. I decided to give myself a break and just use regular polish. Now, I'm no glamour queen - I cook and clean several times a week, and I have neither the dedication nor the time to repaint my nails three times a week. It just will not happen. 

So after my most expensive nail polish chipped on me only two days in I decided that I needed to go out and get a proper top coat. I first picked up the sally hansen insta-dri anti chip top coat in the red bottle. MASSIVE fail. I was sorely disappointed because Sally Hansen has always been my nail go to. With this top coat my nail polish was peeling off in chunks by the next morning. I chucked the bottle and made the plunge with Essie.

Now I am not used to paying $700 + for a bottle of nail polish especially when you can pick up Klean Kolours for $120 BUT I saw the reviews on Makeup Alley and thought if so many people loved it then it was worth a shot. So here's my breakdown:


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Application
The essie brushes are small and narrow so chances are you won't be able to goop this on. It forces the application to be thin and smooth. It feels a tad tacky - as in you may not even notice it. As soon as you apply it and it sets it kind of sets to a hard clear shell like an acrylic coat of paint - which is fantastic if you don't want your nails to chip.

Dry Time
This is not a quick-dry top coat at all. I would imagine that because it's so good at not chipping it needs time to set. I recommend painting your nails where you have an hour to set aside for dry time. It will feel dry to the touch within five minutes if so long, but you can disturb the polish if you apply pressure to it or dink it with something sharp before an hour is up. Dunking your nails in cold water won't help the process either. I haven't tried it with one of those fast-drying sprays though. This may bother some persons but I think it's worth the wait if I don't have to change my polish for at least another five days.

Durability
With cheaper nail polishes the top coat lasted a good five days without a single chip. After the fifth day I saw tiny chips at the top of the nails of my most used fingers. 
With my more expensive/quality polishes this lasted between seven and nine days. A full week!!! I love products that make my life easier!
This may last longer on you because like I said earlier I cook and clean several times a week as well wash my own hair and do laundry. If you don't do this or you do it with gloves on you could have a longer lasting time.

Cost
This is not one of those bargain products per se. You can find it in Kingston for between $700 and $850. So far, I have seen it at Discount Beauty Centre in Kings Plaza or The Beauty Spot in the Spartan Wellness Centre on Brompton Road.
Since my nailpolish can last this long I really have no reason to go to the nail salon so, when you really look at it I have saved myself some money because my at-home manicure can actually last.

Overall
Bottom line, I would repurchase this product and I highly recommend it to all my friends. The smell is not overwhelmingly powerful and it has a nice shiny finish. I consider this a super fave. Well done essie!


Have you tried this product? What was your experience? Leave a comment and let me know!

Till later,
**Jane

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Take It Off! (Lazy Girl's Guide to Good Skin Part 1)

I've been guilty of being too lazy tired to wash my make up off when I come in from a night out, and that smear of cream blush on my pillow case always mocks me the next morning promising that I will almost certainly be seeing a new pimple by the end of the day. Without a doubt, putting on makeup is more fun than taking it off. BUT like, all other good hygienic habits, it must be done. So, of course I had to devise the laziest way to take it all off at the end of any kind of day. *Disclaimer - I'm not a dermatologist, skin specialist or medical professional. This is just what I think from my own experience*

Here we go:

Work Day :

Whether you're a super busy run-around person or you sit behind a desk all day, the optimum time to take off your makeup is as soon as you get home. Why? The longer your skin has to breathe with absolutely nothing on it, is the longer it has to recover on its own. Remember how it feels to take your shoes off and wiggle your toes? That's what you're doing for your face.

Make it easy by putting a pack of makeup remover wipes close to where you put down your bag or take off your jewellery when you get in, and you're less likely to forget to do it. After you've wiped it all off, on your next trip to the bathroom splash your face with some water.

Gym/Workout:

Always always always sweat make-up free. Makeup and sweat is a horrible combination for your pores and will leave you super clogged. Yes, I know you still need to look presentable at the gym, but for the sake of your skin, please wipe off your face make up (foundation, blush, bronzer, highlighter) at least. If you don't want to go completely bare leave on your eye makeup, make sure you're wearing waterproof mascara and that your eyeliner is on your top lid only, otherwise you will end up with raccoon eyes. Plus, foundation on your gym towel just looks like dirt, or worse...skid marks.

Make it easy by slipping a pack of makeup remover wipes into your gym bag. Reduce smears by wiping off your foundation and blush before you change your clothes. Never mind if you look like you're missing a little colour. Working up a good sweat will make you flushed and glowing naturally.

Night out on the Town:

You're finally home and your feet ache and you can barely stand but you slathered on the makeup earlier and you need to wipe it off. Typically, we go heavier with the makeup at night and are even more lackadaisical about taking it off when we get in.But this is exactly why we need to do it. Heavier makeup requires a two-step process especially if you're gonna be too lazy tired to wash your face.

Take a makeup remover wipe or two and wipe everything off as best as you can. Wipes can end up leaving your face slightly sticky so you can always substitute the second wipe for witch hazel on a cotton pad. The second step is a face oil. Didn't see that coming did you? An oil, in its virgin form like tea tree oil or argan oil will do alot for your skin. The moisturizing properties will help to combat the dehydration from any alcohol you consumed or any smoke that was in the air while the anti-bacterial properties will nix any remaining dirt that could be clogging your pores. Get your oils here if you live in Kingston, Jamaica.

My favourite make-up removers are:

  

Neutrogena                                        Simple                                                   Ponds

                                                                                                                     (Keep this in the fridge)

DIY- Makeup Removers I like:

- Witch Hazel & Rose Water

- Olive Oil and Witch Hazel

Fave Eye Make-up Remover:

Neutrogena Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover

Remember ladies, just washing your face doesn't remove your makeup. Your best bet is to use a make-up remover (store bought or DIY) and then to wash your face. I don't recommend using an exfoliating scrub after you've used a makeup remover. A cream cleanser or other regular cleanser will do the job without irritating your skin.

If you want a step-by-step breakdown on how to make your own makeup remover leave me a comment and I'll get right on it. 

Till later,

**Jane

PS - Can we take a minute to just swoon at the loveliness of cream blush at night? Especially in candlelit areas? Swoooooon!

P PS - Yes, I'm starting a new series of posts, and aren't you a smarty pants for noticing.

  

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The Nail Polish Colours You Should Be Wearing Now

Summer is almost here and its time to pretty up our tips and toes. So clear away your moody colours and reds and get out your neons, brights and pastels. Here are my my five favourite colours for this season:

1. Essie - Saturday Disco Fever
   
   
   Nothing says summer to me like bright orange toes. This will look great on all skintones. The color is from Essie's new neon collection and reminds me of last year's pantone colour - tangerine. I love it. It can be girly, it can be classy, it can be edgy. Super versatile colour. I wouldn't do this on longer nails though unless you're going for that more ghetto-fabulous vibe.

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2.  Klean Kolour - Pastel Purple

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There is such a thing as a neon pastel - and this is an example of that. Usually if you want your pastel colour to stand out you have to paint a white base underneath. But just one coat of this baby and it's opaque pastel brightness will wow you. I fell in love the minute I saw the bottle. It looks equally pretty on toes as it does fingers. And though Klean Kolours is on the cheaper end of the spectrum, this has very good lasting power - five days before a single chip. Run out and get it now.

3. Brucci - Luscious Lori

You can't quite capture the luminescence of this colour. It's a cross between a parrot blue and cobalt. I am not a blue person unless it's a dark dark blue. The formula isn't very smooth so you do have to work with it but the colour is opaque on the first coat. The colour is pretty close to essie's butler please but it has a little more depth to it. Luv.

4. Bruci - Kelly's Kool

I tried several times to capture this colour but it doesn't photograph well. It is a striking neon purple with an undertone of fuschia. Pretty, bright, girly colour. It's a tad sophisticated but still playful and flirty. Nuff said. 

5. China Glaze - Custom Kicks

Not the tiffany blue colour or the mint colour that everyone's been rocking, but a deeper, more modern take on it. Looks amazing on dark skin. It just screams Sunday afternoon barbeque by the pool to me. Close your eyes and imagine it - white shorts, staw fedora, blous-y yellow top?Yess....

And that's it my lovelies! What colour are you rocking this spring? Leave a comment below and let me know. ( All nail polishes bought from Woolworth Pharmacy in New Kingston Shopping Centre).

Till later,

**Jane

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