2010: Beauty Product Rewind

As the year winds down I have stopped to take a deep breath. It smells good in here. Is that you? No? Well, just wait a moment and I’ll tell you what does smell good. As per usual, I wanted to write a year end post and in doing so I have to recall all the good and new stuff that 2010 brought. Originally, I wanted to create a short list of  things, products, services, and items, but this ended up being a really long post so I’m breaking it up a bit and including a few random items in each post. I realize that they’re tailored to my own tastes and, especially when it comes to hair and beauty products, that you would like them if you were a light-skinned mulatto chic with hair like mine. So if you are? THIS IS FOR YOU. (Click on the product pictures to take you to the websites where you can purchase them.)

Hair Products

It was as if the Lord Himself set forth these products to make their way into my hands. Moroccan Oil is like a lush, heavenly product made just for my naturally curly hair. My own salon carries them and earlier this year I started seeing Moroccan Oil everywhere in magazines, on beauty blogs, etc. The Luminous Hair Spray, the Glimmer Shine Spray, and the Original MoroccanOil Treatment are my three favorites and create the perfect hair cocktail to get exactly what I want.

Beauty Products

My sister, Tracy, let me use all of her makeup when I inadvertently left mine at home and she got me hooked on the most delicious, dewy, fresh-looking makeup routine. Ever. No, really. My face glows once I started using these products.

It’s billed as an “industrial strength concealer” and Benefit’s Boi-ing is just that.  You got stuff to hide? Get down with this stuff.

She also turned me onto Stila’s One Step and had a near orgasmic experience while describing it to me. And I quote: “You will feel like an effin rockstar putting that shit on with your FINGERS. You will be Halle fukn Berry for 2 minutes every morning. It is like velvet, my friend. Beautiful.” Tsk! Tsk! dear sister! Normally, I don’t use such language (shocking!) but I would have to agree with her on this. Every morning I turn into Halle Berry for 2 minutes. Sometimes longer if I feel like extending that time period. 4 minutes. Tops.

Here’s how I glow: there’s another product by Benefit called “Moon Beam”. It is designed like nail polish with a brush that you use to paint on your face and then rub in with your fingers. It’s divine. It’s my favorite thing that I’ve ever put on my face.

Every woman needs to know what looks good on her and what features to accentuate. (Except for my butt. I need no help in accentuating in that department. Thank you, genetics.) (Okay, now look up here. Back to my face, please.) My favorite features are my eyes and if I have to run out of the house with only one product on my face then I go for the eye. My friend Danielle introduced me to the Too Faced eye collection. Incidentally, I learned they’re having a 65% off Vintage Sale plus free shipping for the remainder of December. The eye collections are great because they come with three different how-to cards for different day and evening looks and because the eye shadow is soft and silky and goes on lids smoothly.

Frangrances

Now, look. Have I ever steered you wrong? I mean with the big things! You can’t smell it right here nor can you even visit the website and do a scratch-and-sniff. Allow me to describe each scent for you, thus not doing it any justice at all. The first one is for women. (I wrote this post before actually searching for the product, so I’m compelled to tell you that this item is discontinued from L’Occitane, but I found a reasonably priced one for $74 as well as a ridiculously priced one for $224 on eBay. The next time you’re in an airport terminal with a L’Occitane shop, pick this up for me. I’ll pay you AND cook you a gourmet meal. Seriously.)

When I wear this people will always ALWAYS ask, “Who smells good?” and, after waiting a beat in case it’s someone else, I say, “That’s me!” This one is also sensual but it’s warm and spicy without making you want to choke. It’s not too sweet or vanilla-y and has several layers to it that change when combined with your own scents (so I hope you smell good!).

This is one for the men. It’s what I bought for The Cuban and when he wears it I literally bury my face into his big barrel chest and sniff until I can’t take any more into my lungs. Sometimes he just tortures me and sprays it on himself just before I leave the house to lure me back home quickly. It’s got cypress in it so it’s spicy but it’s also got vanilla, cardamom, pink pepper and incense. All that combined smells very sensual and heady. A lot of times, I steal a spray or two from it which works just as well as a woman’s scent especially since the one I liked from this same company has discontinued mine.

Toys

The thing I still want (and it’s ON MY LIST of things I’m saving up for after the Christmas deficit passes) is the Fish-eye camera from Lomography.

It takes these fun photos like you’re in a bubble except that you’re not drunk unless you want to drink vodka and then take photos and whoa, those would come out bizarre and I’m totally trying that when I get it.

People

Now, this isn’t something you can buy in a store or online, but I thought I’d at least list what I’ve learned about people this year.  I continue to choose joy, but there are some lessons that humankind taught me in 2010. Some of them were re-learned and others were new. Be consistent. Never assume someone agrees with you when they’re nodding their heads. Racism is still alive but not well in this country. Being an authoritative, strong woman still makes other women uncomfortable. Mental illness should never go unchecked, undiagnosed, or ignored.

2010 was really rather good to me. I like it here. Borrowing from my friend (and author!) (and most linked to person on the Internet by me) Karen, “2011 better come wit’ it!”