Spell magazine is a mini magazine that is available in Pride magazine and black beauty and hair magazine. It's only a few pages long. Its published by Feme Ltd- the makers of hair extensions/wigs like sensationnel. So it is in essence a giant advertisement? Yes, yes it is. But Oh they do so, so well.
Yes it is covered in their hair brands but they give good makeup advice, glossy high res quality photographs and have some good articles and industry insight.
It may just be one bright and colourful advert, but so are all the major black beauty publications in the UK and at least it doesn't look dated and is actually relevant.
It's some bubblegum pop fluffy read, and I love it.
You can read issues here and for free
http://www.spellmagazine.com/
What can I say I'm a sucker for pictures and I like seeing images of women of colour.
The Beauty chronicles of saarflondon girl
Saturday, 3 September 2011
Friday, 2 September 2011
Sleek Blush in Suede. Nude collection, on Dark skin
I really wanted to like this blush. I really wanted to. I adore Sleek Avoir La Peche Collection Pan Tao Blush and I had seen some pictures of Suede on the interweb and I was excited. I love browns, neutrals whatever you want to call them. This collection would be for me!
But Alas 'twas not to be.
Umm yeah, it's not nude really for darker skinned folk. Its more a light pink mauve. Oh and kind of...ashy.
I really actually packed a lot on my brush several times on the swatch on my arm. It just does not show up well on my skin.
This is the second time I've been duped by sleek blushers!!!! ( Side eyes sunset)Well it was my fault, I swatched it in superdrug and valiantly thought it would magically change colours at home ( because y'know the store lights distort colours)
Basically if you're my complexion or darker than me it'll leave you a chalky mess IMO. It just won't show up. I might try it over/under bronzer , and its ok as an eyeshadow. Oh well you win some you lose some.
( do you see how i thought i was going to get something BROWN. Sleek Y U lie to me?)
I took a look and a swatch of the Nude palette. The first six shades ( the lighter side)would take an act of god to show up on my skin or look in any way shape or form attractive. However the latter 6 shades had two or 3 nice shadows, there was a nice dark gold number that caught my eye. However i just think its wasteful to buy a palette and then not use half. So i bought a dress instead.
SO yeah all in all Sleek's nude collection looks really nice. But NOT IF YOU'RE BLACKkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Its ok Girl, maybe they'll be something for us in the next collection)
But Alas 'twas not to be.
Umm yeah, it's not nude really for darker skinned folk. Its more a light pink mauve. Oh and kind of...ashy.
I really actually packed a lot on my brush several times on the swatch on my arm. It just does not show up well on my skin.
This is the second time I've been duped by sleek blushers!!!! ( Side eyes sunset)Well it was my fault, I swatched it in superdrug and valiantly thought it would magically change colours at home ( because y'know the store lights distort colours)
Basically if you're my complexion or darker than me it'll leave you a chalky mess IMO. It just won't show up. I might try it over/under bronzer , and its ok as an eyeshadow. Oh well you win some you lose some.
( do you see how i thought i was going to get something BROWN. Sleek Y U lie to me?)
I took a look and a swatch of the Nude palette. The first six shades ( the lighter side)would take an act of god to show up on my skin or look in any way shape or form attractive. However the latter 6 shades had two or 3 nice shadows, there was a nice dark gold number that caught my eye. However i just think its wasteful to buy a palette and then not use half. So i bought a dress instead.
SO yeah all in all Sleek's nude collection looks really nice. But NOT IF YOU'RE BLACKkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Its ok Girl, maybe they'll be something for us in the next collection)
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Smooth 'N Shine Therapy Silk fusion sixty second critical repair review
Oh wow that name is long.
Anyway its been ages! Where have I been??? Worst blogger ever.
Anyway friends, romans, countrymen lend me your ears. I come bearing the gift of conditioner.
Now if you head over to the natural haven ( cry's tears of joy for how good the blog is), look at the post on coconut oil.
http://thenaturalhaven.blogspot.com/2009/04/coconut-oil-knowledge-from-our.html
1. Coconut oil penetrates into the cortex (Journal of Cosmetic Science pg 169-184,2001).Why should you care? This oil can help condition, moisturise and strengthen your hair!
2. Coconut oil reduces damage to hair cuticle during combing especially wet combing that many naturals (not me) are fond of (Journal of Cosmetic Science pg 327-339,1999).
3. Coconut oil reduces swelling of the hair shaft when the hair is immersed into water, protecting the hair from hygral fatigue. (Journal of Cosmetic Science pg 169-184,2001)
Say what now?????
So since then I've been trying to use coconut oil in my hair prior to washing. The trouble with me is that i am a messy person. The oil gets everywhere running down my neck, just everywhere. Again my hair is very dry so when i add oil onto already dry hair it just feels horrid.
So I've been incorporating conditioners with coconut oil in them. I have found one i love. Coconut oil is the second ingredient. Yay! Also no silicone's. This can be used as a regular conditioner or a deep conditioner since its so thick. The instructions say to leave on for 1 minutes but i do usually leave it on for longer.
It makes my hair feel so soft. I am a sulfate shampoo lover ( boo!hiss!) so obviously my hair feels drier after washing and this just restores softness totally. It's thick it smells nice and makes my hair more manageable.
There is one slight very slight downside. Glitter. No not the Opus of Mariah Carey's career, but glitter particles. I don't know if those who formulated the product were 10 year olds high on sherbet dip after a frenzy at claire's accessories or Kesha, but this deep conditioner for some bizarre reason contains little pieces of Glitter.
The good news is they do wash out totally. ( well i found one staring back out at me when i looked in the mirror)
Ingredients:
Aqua (Water), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyquaternium-32, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Glycerin, Pearl Powder, Silk Amino Acids, Panthenol, Biotin, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Polybutylene Terephthalate, Acrylates Copolymer, Ethylene/VA Copolymer, Maris Sal (Sea Salt), Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Parfum (Fragrance), CI 15985 (Yellow 6).
So it contains no silicone's, but it does have mineral oil.
What they say:
Indulge your hair with silk proteins and pearl extracts that will condition, reconstruct and transform damaged hair into manageable, healthy and lustrous tresses. The luxury of silk and pearl extracts will leave hair glistening with luminosity, just like perfect pearls.
This conditioning treatment will moisturize, repair, and protect damaged hair. This formula is light enough to use daily and moisturizing enough to use as a weekly treatment.
Purchased for £3.99 for 12m.
Also comes in sachets.
Anyway its been ages! Where have I been??? Worst blogger ever.
Anyway friends, romans, countrymen lend me your ears. I come bearing the gift of conditioner.
Now if you head over to the natural haven ( cry's tears of joy for how good the blog is), look at the post on coconut oil.
http://thenaturalhaven.blogspot.com/2009/04/coconut-oil-knowledge-from-our.html
1. Coconut oil penetrates into the cortex (Journal of Cosmetic Science pg 169-184,2001).Why should you care? This oil can help condition, moisturise and strengthen your hair!
2. Coconut oil reduces damage to hair cuticle during combing especially wet combing that many naturals (not me) are fond of (Journal of Cosmetic Science pg 327-339,1999).
3. Coconut oil reduces swelling of the hair shaft when the hair is immersed into water, protecting the hair from hygral fatigue. (Journal of Cosmetic Science pg 169-184,2001)
Say what now?????
So since then I've been trying to use coconut oil in my hair prior to washing. The trouble with me is that i am a messy person. The oil gets everywhere running down my neck, just everywhere. Again my hair is very dry so when i add oil onto already dry hair it just feels horrid.
So I've been incorporating conditioners with coconut oil in them. I have found one i love. Coconut oil is the second ingredient. Yay! Also no silicone's. This can be used as a regular conditioner or a deep conditioner since its so thick. The instructions say to leave on for 1 minutes but i do usually leave it on for longer.
It makes my hair feel so soft. I am a sulfate shampoo lover ( boo!hiss!) so obviously my hair feels drier after washing and this just restores softness totally. It's thick it smells nice and makes my hair more manageable.
There is one slight very slight downside. Glitter. No not the Opus of Mariah Carey's career, but glitter particles. I don't know if those who formulated the product were 10 year olds high on sherbet dip after a frenzy at claire's accessories or Kesha, but this deep conditioner for some bizarre reason contains little pieces of Glitter.
The good news is they do wash out totally. ( well i found one staring back out at me when i looked in the mirror)
Ingredients:
Aqua (Water), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyquaternium-32, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Glycerin, Pearl Powder, Silk Amino Acids, Panthenol, Biotin, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Polybutylene Terephthalate, Acrylates Copolymer, Ethylene/VA Copolymer, Maris Sal (Sea Salt), Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Parfum (Fragrance), CI 15985 (Yellow 6).
So it contains no silicone's, but it does have mineral oil.
What they say:
Indulge your hair with silk proteins and pearl extracts that will condition, reconstruct and transform damaged hair into manageable, healthy and lustrous tresses. The luxury of silk and pearl extracts will leave hair glistening with luminosity, just like perfect pearls.
This conditioning treatment will moisturize, repair, and protect damaged hair. This formula is light enough to use daily and moisturizing enough to use as a weekly treatment.
Purchased for £3.99 for 12m.
Also comes in sachets.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Boots 17 Photo flawless Lashes mascara
Since my beloved Wet and Wild mega wink dried up and is now discontinued, i've been looking for a mascara alternative.
Like looking for life's one true love finding a good mascara is difficult. The amount out there is overwhelming and it is a vital makeup tool, even those that proudly proclaim they don't wear makeup have a mascara somewhere.
Anyway i had seen good reviews for this mascara ( ok a grand total of 2) and i thought hey this will work for me and its affordable!
Well there was a catch, it does and it also doesn't.
I was so upset when i first used it. I found the brush practically submerged in gunk, it was hard to use, clumpy, the brush was too big and mascara got all over my eyelids.
As time went on i had to modifiy the way i used it. Its not something i can just brush on quickly, i have to look in the mirror downwards, make sure to go slow and steady and try not to come out with black stuff all over my eyes.
It comes in several different "pearlescent colours" as the brochure claims, i bought black/green- it does nothing to brighten my eyes as it claims too. The black/gold is for brown eyes but it wasn't in stock at the time.
It does lengthen my lashes and makes them look good, however it is far too cumbersome for me and when this finishes i will not be repurchasing.
Like looking for life's one true love finding a good mascara is difficult. The amount out there is overwhelming and it is a vital makeup tool, even those that proudly proclaim they don't wear makeup have a mascara somewhere.
Anyway i had seen good reviews for this mascara ( ok a grand total of 2) and i thought hey this will work for me and its affordable!
Well there was a catch, it does and it also doesn't.
I was so upset when i first used it. I found the brush practically submerged in gunk, it was hard to use, clumpy, the brush was too big and mascara got all over my eyelids.
As time went on i had to modifiy the way i used it. Its not something i can just brush on quickly, i have to look in the mirror downwards, make sure to go slow and steady and try not to come out with black stuff all over my eyes.
It comes in several different "pearlescent colours" as the brochure claims, i bought black/green- it does nothing to brighten my eyes as it claims too. The black/gold is for brown eyes but it wasn't in stock at the time.
It does lengthen my lashes and makes them look good, however it is far too cumbersome for me and when this finishes i will not be repurchasing.
Friday, 15 April 2011
Queen Helene Smoothing Conditioner with cocoa Butter
Generally I don't really like Queen Helene products of any kind. I find them to be far too watery and thin for my liking and generally ineffective. But for some reason my eye was drawn to this.
What the blurb says:
This one-of-a-kind conditioner drenches your hair with the rich, replenishing moisture of cocoa butter and the natural, nurturing benefits of shea butter.
( aww bless, feels almost like you're in the womb again)
Tames frizz and makes it easy to blow dry curly, dry or coarse hair to a smooth, sleek style. Helps soften hair texture and protect against dryness and the effects of sun, wind and humidity. Leaves hair easy to comb and beautifully manageable with a dazzling, healthy shine. Paraben free. Safe for color-treated hair:
Ingredients:Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Caster oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Theobroma Cacao( Cocoa) Seeed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii( Shea butter), Stearalkonium Chloride, Polyquatermine-39, Tocopheryl Acetate(Vit. E), Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium sorbate, sodium Benzoate, Parfum.
It's an ok conditioner, it's not life changing but its a cone free, paraben free cheap conditioner that does its job. After washing i felt my hair did feel slightly softer but it was nothing dramatic.
It does smell like shampoo (?) but it's not a horrible smell but it is quite powerful. It's a little thin and I'm natural with type 4 hair and i do prefer thicker however it's not too runny or anything. I've been using it for a few weeks and I think I will continue to do so.
One for the "It's ok files".
What the blurb says:
This one-of-a-kind conditioner drenches your hair with the rich, replenishing moisture of cocoa butter and the natural, nurturing benefits of shea butter.
( aww bless, feels almost like you're in the womb again)
Tames frizz and makes it easy to blow dry curly, dry or coarse hair to a smooth, sleek style. Helps soften hair texture and protect against dryness and the effects of sun, wind and humidity. Leaves hair easy to comb and beautifully manageable with a dazzling, healthy shine. Paraben free. Safe for color-treated hair:
Ingredients:Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Caster oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Theobroma Cacao( Cocoa) Seeed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii( Shea butter), Stearalkonium Chloride, Polyquatermine-39, Tocopheryl Acetate(Vit. E), Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium sorbate, sodium Benzoate, Parfum.
It's an ok conditioner, it's not life changing but its a cone free, paraben free cheap conditioner that does its job. After washing i felt my hair did feel slightly softer but it was nothing dramatic.
It does smell like shampoo (?) but it's not a horrible smell but it is quite powerful. It's a little thin and I'm natural with type 4 hair and i do prefer thicker however it's not too runny or anything. I've been using it for a few weeks and I think I will continue to do so.
One for the "It's ok files".
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Learn your lines
This is a review of Laval Dip Eyeliner in Black.
My favourite liquid liner. It is also not very easy to get. I have to use Ebay to find it.
Now Laval are a company based in Warrington, that are export only. However you can find laval products on discount websites, eBay and market stalls. I bought my first liner from a market stall and it lasted a good while and when i went back there were no more! Laval also have another liquid liner, but although the formulation and staying power is the same, the brush is different.
The laval dip eyeliner has more of a nib tip like a pen that gives me more control, whereas the other liquid eyeliner ( that comes in a cylinder form) is more of a teeny brush.
I love this liner because it is very black. It's often hard to get a black liner that is really black. It does not dry shiny ( like some other brands *cough Doris michaels*) and it doesn't flake or get that weird crackling effect that can often happen with cheap liners. Oh and its also very cheap. Its most valued aspect however is that it lasts. It has lasted me until the next day( yes i didn't wash my face before going to bed and yes I'm aware I will be doomed because of this) with out a smudge. I don't know whats in it but it won't budge. surprisingly it's not difficult to remove.
Its con is, that it's not available on the high street but if you poke around Ebay long enough you can find it. It's usually under £3 and for that price its fantastic.
My favourite liquid liner. It is also not very easy to get. I have to use Ebay to find it.
Now Laval are a company based in Warrington, that are export only. However you can find laval products on discount websites, eBay and market stalls. I bought my first liner from a market stall and it lasted a good while and when i went back there were no more! Laval also have another liquid liner, but although the formulation and staying power is the same, the brush is different.
The laval dip eyeliner has more of a nib tip like a pen that gives me more control, whereas the other liquid eyeliner ( that comes in a cylinder form) is more of a teeny brush.
I love this liner because it is very black. It's often hard to get a black liner that is really black. It does not dry shiny ( like some other brands *cough Doris michaels*) and it doesn't flake or get that weird crackling effect that can often happen with cheap liners. Oh and its also very cheap. Its most valued aspect however is that it lasts. It has lasted me until the next day( yes i didn't wash my face before going to bed and yes I'm aware I will be doomed because of this) with out a smudge. I don't know whats in it but it won't budge. surprisingly it's not difficult to remove.
Its con is, that it's not available on the high street but if you poke around Ebay long enough you can find it. It's usually under £3 and for that price its fantastic.
Thursday, 17 March 2011
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