ONE SWIPE AND RIGHT OFF WITH @ASKELF!

I suffered a MAC (Book) attack, had a couple mishaps but work continues. Although I stood down for the last couple of weeks on posting anything, the Blogging continues. So ...If you are like me, you hardly ever do your nails yourself. Well, at one time that applied but my beloved Nail Stylist, Mikal Weathers decided to go off and have a bundle of blessings with the Hubby and then went on maternity leave. The nerve of her. So I'm left to my own devices. And I've found, the same as I am hesitant about letting just anyone tame my mane aka, my hair, the same applies to my nails. Now pedi's, I'm not as discriminating but my hands are a different story. 

I've done my own nails now a couple of times for the first time in like ...FOREVA! The primary reasons why I don't is one, Mikal is just so dang good at what she does, I've posted about her work before here and the pic above is her work. But two, who has time for dat, doing their own nails?! I find if I have tools to make it quick and easy like a dry fast top coat and this right here, elf Nail Polish Remover Pads, I'm more likely to take on the challenge of doing my own nails. I was a bit skeptical about this product at first upon scooping them from my local Target, the infamous shopping destination that always reels me in resulting in my leaving with twice as many items as I intended to buy. I love the small packaging and the citrus scent caught my attention as well. And I figured 2 bucks for 24 pads, not a bad deal. So after walking around last week with busted and disgusted nails for too many days (I hope you didn't see me), I had an opportunity to give these pads a go. 

PRESS PLAY ...AND SEE THE "TAKE-OFF" FOR YOURSELF

I particularly loved that I didn't have to use all 24 pads. But for the cost, they were pretty effective and considering that this nail job was two coats, I was impressed. The citrus scent it nice and less that standard toxic polish remover smell. And like how some polishes leave a very dry finish, these pads actually leave your nails very hydrated if that makes sense so you don't get that dry, ashy nail bed finish. But I found these to be great to toss in your bag so if in a pinch you need to take polish off because of a chip. And the pads are great as a corrector. You know how sometimes you just need to swipe alongside your cuticle to get that lil' bit of polish that ran over, these are great for that too.

2 bucks, toss em' and go. One swipe and right off!

HOW OFTEN DO YOU DO YOUR OWN NAILS? WHAT ARE YOUR FAVE NAIL TOOLS/PRODUCTS?

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#BEAUTYTALK: THE EYES HAVE IT ...MY FAVE #MKGLAM LOOK

I've finally had a chance to try all the goodies in my Mary Kay #MKGlam VoxBox provided me complimentary by Influenster, in its entirety. I've tried everything from the Lash Love Mascara and Bronzing Powder to the Cream Eye Color and NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss. And this is by far my fave look of all the looks I created. Why? Because of the Gel Eyeliner. Hands down, it's my fave Mary Kay product. At the moment, doing a winged or cat eye does it for me. I may be embracing another technique at any moment. But for the time being, this works. The Mary Kay Gel Eyeliner delivers such an intense color in jet black. And as I posted to my Instagram last week (@bagladies), the expendable brush allows me to get closer to my lash line than I've been able to get with any like product. And the precision of the applicator brush is excellent! I can go as thin or as thick as I like. And the gel stays put so no sliding. I'm not a makeup artist nor do I proclaim to be but what I am, is a beauty junkie and I like to make sure my face is beat aka, I'm not a makeup artist but I wanna look like one. This is not the "best" pic but my eye particularly as per this look executed so well (in my opinion). This was a quick snap in the midst of Memorial Day weekend antics. I love it because using the gel eyeliner (brush and gel below), and then layering my fave mascara created such volume. I look at this pic and my lashes appear lengthy and full almost similar to what I would look like if I were wearing falsies but I'm not! I suck at applying falsies btw. So being able to achieve that dramatic look is a win for me. I also used a couple other Mary Kay products per this look so just to breakdown this look and products used (links included), in its entirety:

FACE - Victoria's Secret Tinted Moisturizer Primer, Deep - I shine so I rarely do a full face when temps get warm. I fell in love with this product a couple years ago. It's very light and provides just enough moisture and has just enough pigment to just even out my complexion just a bit. It has a great sun kissed glow. I oftentimes will apply this and gloss and go.

CHEEKS - Mary Kay Mineral Cheek Color, Shy Blush - I actually liked that this color had staying power. For me, it was just enough color without being too dramatic. It defined my cheekbones really well. I also layered a bit of MAC's Lustre Drops (liquid bronzer) at the top of my cheeks and over the blush just to add a dewy glow which is evident in this pic and I love it. I applied to the middle of my forehead too

BROWS - MAC Fluidline in Dipdown - Everbody knows about this stuff. It's my fave cause for me a pencil doesn't work. I typically will further define my brows with concealer but on this day I was lazy. Sometimes I don't want to look so formal and precise so I used fluidline and layered lightly with a Prescriptives brow shaping powder and done!

LIPS - MAC Lustre from the Flash Tronic collection - I actually only just happened upon this color a few days before after finding a hidden stash of product in my office. I posted about it on my Instagram @bagladies. I don't even know if this color is still available cause it's from like 2009 I think. But I love it. I wore it all weekend. I lightly lined with a Mally liner in Deepest Brown.

THOSE EYES - Mary Kay Gel Eyeliner in Jet Black - I did a winged look on my upper lash and I lined my water line. I then used my fave Maybelline mascara, The Collosal in Classic Black and just on my upper lashes. I didn't apply any on my lower lashes.

FINISHING TOUCH - Mary Kay Translucent Powder - I was surprised at how effective this was in reducing shine. I wore two days in a row. One for a party Saturday nite and as stuffy as the venue got,   I didn't have any unwanted shine. And then again at a couple cookouts the following day. Excellent control. And the Mary Kay powder brush makes for easy application and a subtle dusting.

And that's it! I may try to recreate this look as a Youtube video. I'm not a makeup artist as I said but maybe I can play one on Youtube LOL! What do you think of this look? Any suggestions on how to enhance? Have you used any of these products?

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New season lineup soon to come to the online airwaves of Bag Ladies Radio. In the meantime, OnDemand/iTunes are 24/7. Check out my fave show picks and access recent shows and the full archive at bagladiesradio.com/listen.  Follow on Twitter and Instagram

#TBT TO THAT TIME WHEN I SLEPT ON THE SIDEWALK ALL IN THE NAME OF SHOPPING

Whilst rummaging through a HUGE bag of product samples from previously aired "Beauty Talk" episodes which is my most popular live on-air segment, I found everything from brand spanking new MAC lipsticks to unopened perfume, cleansers, moisturizers and more! I was doing a bit of spring cleaning and found the bag just this week tucked under my bed. I mean I was swooning over some of this stuff and thinking how could I leave you??? 

Bag O' Goodies

I'm an undercover "beauty junkie." I don't boast about it because I'm not a make up artist or professional but I love beauty products and at one time, I was doing reviews both on and off-air regularly. But what was most nostalgic about happening upon these treasures, was an empty lipstick case battered, bruised and neglected from the debut of Lanvin for HM. I was immediately taken back to my friends and I camping out on the sidewalk overnight on a cold night might I add just for the sake of being able to snag and grab pieces from the collection. And yes, we did have to grab with the quickness because we by far were not the only ones on a mission. Are you a shopaholic too? I scored three lipsticks all of which I still have as per my arsenal and all of which I still wear. You can click HERE for the full post which chronicles my adventure (that it was), and my SCORE! It was major.

And just as an update to that post, that must-have dress, I still have not yet worn but it's mine foreva!!

All in the name of shopping ...I don't know that I would do that again but you only live once, right? To what extremes have you ever gone, in the name of shopping?

The "after." My hand was covered in swatches after sifting through my Bag O' Goodies

Follow me on IG/Twitter and Vine @bagladies.

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New season lineup soon to come to the online airwaves of Bag Ladies Radio. In the meantime, OnDemand/iTunes are 24/7. Check out my fave show picks and access recent shows and the full archive at bagladiesradio.com/listen.  Follow on Twitter and Instagram