Makeup By Kim Porter
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Lipstick Lovers Worldwide MAC Lipstick Giveaway

by / blog, Giveaways, The Beauty Council / 15 Comments

Lipstick Lovers Giveaway_Blog

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Do you have that one best friend you look up to for fashion or beauty advice?  The friend that always has the latest threads, and knows what’s on trend when it comes to makeup? I know you have that friend you’ve been dying to rummage through their stash, right? Guess what? Now, you have that chance!  Think of us, The Beauty Council, as your online beauty besties. We have come together to give away one of our favorite MAC Lipsticks!!!

GIVEAWAY MAC LIPSTICK BLOGGERS PICKS

 

From now, until February 13, 2015, 11:59 p.m. PST you have the chance to enter to win 1 of 17 MAC Lipsticks in our Lipstick Lovers Worldwide Giveaway! My favorite lipstick, just in case you were wondering, is the MAC Lipstick shade in Smoked Purple. Smoked Purple is a matte lipstick that is a deep eggplant purple. It’s been in heavy rotation this winter.



Entering The Beauty Council’s Lipstick Lovers Worldwide Giveaway is easy.  All you have to do is complete the Rafflecopter widget below, and follow the prompts for extra entires. Be sure to tell your friends.  I’m sure they’d love to win a MAC lipstick, too!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Good luck in winning one of our favorite MAC Lipstick shades. 

2015 Beauty Resolution: Get Healthier Hair #TheBeautyCouncil

by / Hair Care, The Beauty Council / 47 Comments

Get Healthier Hair _2015 Kim Porter

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My hair, my hair, my freaking hair! It has always been on the thinner side, but ever since having my daughter, almost four years ago, I have had such a hard time with my hair. From it shedding and breaking, to it being dry and brittle, my hair just isn’t healthy. As women, hair and a beautiful face are everything, and can affect how we feel about ourselves.  Trust me, how I feel now because of my hair, is a 180 of how I was before.  For 2015, I promised myself I’m going to do everything in my power to get healthier hair.

What am I going to do to get healthier hair this year?

Visit a dermatologist that specializes in scalp treatments and hair loss.

Two years ago, I did visit a dermatologist regarding my hair issues. I was told to stop relaxing my hair, which I did.  I had to use a prescribed shampoo twice per week, and apply this foam treatment to my scalp.  The shampoo dried out my hair, and I couldn’t use the foam treatment because I was still nursing my daughter.

I found two dermatologists that received amazing reviews regarding their treatments for hair loss.  I’m scheduling a consult with both.

Get Healthier Hair 2015 _Hair Line

Take better care of my hair at home

Before, I was giving myself home treatments every wash.  Lately, I haven’t.  My hooded hair dryer broke, and I don’t have the time to dedicate a full day for hair washes like I used to.  I stopped investing in good hair care products, too. I just didn’t feel the need to because we were saving and the money could put to better use, and guess what? I was wrong, and my hair is suffering – badly.


While perusing my Instagram timeline, I came across a post from Tamar Braxton.  She posted a photo of her hair in a ponytail, singing the praises of Simplicity Hair Oil. Like me, Tamar lost her edges postpartum, too.  The products from this line grew them back.  I checked out testimonials and reviews of their products, and was amazed by the results.  I’m sold! I’m picking up some to get healthier hair.

Get Healthier Hair_Kim Porter
My hair when it was healthier

 

Add some diversity to my protective styling

My protective styling for the last few months since taking out my weave, has been a top bun.  It used to be two braids or a top bun. I got lazy, I am not good at styling natural hair, so I stuck to the top bun. My edges are suffering, y’all, and that’s with using Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO) religiously.  In order to get healthier hair, and get back my edges I need to diversify my styling to include styles that don’t cause tension on my edges.

Get Healthier Hair_Protective Style

Other things I do to get healthier hair include:

  • Increasing my water intake
  • Taking vitamins – I take prenatal vitamins since we’re still TTC.  I’m on the fence about hairfinity.
  • Eating a healthy diet

I also need to find a new hair stylist in my area since I’ve moved.  If you have any suggestions for a hair stylist that is not only good at styling hair, but also takes care of your hair, and is in Nassau County, New York, please let me know.  I’d also love to hear your suggestions of things that worked for you to get healthier hair.

What are your beauty resolutions for 2015?

 

 

The Beauty Council: Winter Beauty Staples #TheBeautyCouncil

by / Skincare, The Beauty Council / 41 Comments

The Beauty Council Winter Beauty Staples
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I’m a member of this awesome group of beauty bloggers, The Beauty Council, which means I will be linking up on some informative and fun beauty-related posts.  This time around, The Beauty Council is dishing on our Winter Beauty Staples.

Winter has shown her ugly face this past week in New York City.  One day, it was a balmy 60 degree day, and then the blistering 30 degree and below temperatures hit.  And, just recently, we had snow.  Right now, my heat is turned up high, and I’m bundled up like baby Jesus in the manger, and I’m keeping my winter beauty staples close by.  The combination of heat and the cold winter weather can wreak havoc on your hair, skin, and nails so it’s imperative that I have an arsenal of products that help combat the dryness and dull-looking skin that is associated with winter weather.

Winter Beauty Staples for Skin

Cleanser

Face: Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser (creamy Formula).  I reviewed the foaming formula of this cleanser, but, since then, I’ve switched to the creamy version.  Both formula’s are great for my skin; however, the cream formula has become a winter beauty staple since it’s a lot more hydrating, is gentle and there’s no fragrance.

Body:  Right now, I’m using Hot Toddy shower gel from LUSH.  It’s the perfect combination of cinnamon and patchouli perfect for a warming experience while showering.  It contains aloe vera gel to aid in hydrating and healing dry skin.

Exfoliant

Face: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is one of my favorite exfoliating products to use because it’s gentle enough to use daily without causing harm and extra dryness to your skin.  You can read more about it in my review.

Body: I guess you an say that I exfoliate my body daily because I use mesh shower gloves. I just don’t feel clean without them; however, I do have days when I take an extra step to include a body scrub because I love having soft, smooth and glowing skin.  It an either be one of my homemade sugar scrubs, or the  Teadora Beauty Nourishing Body Polish I just reviewed.

Moisturizer

Face: I haven’t quite found a hydrating serum to add to my winter beauty staples, but, I still make sure my skin is well moisturized both during the day and in the evening.  During the day, I use Dermalogica’s Age Smart Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50.  Even though it’s winter, it’s still important to wear SPF products during the day.  At night, I use the Valentia Vitamin Even Glow Serum along with one of my favorite moisturizers, Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate. For my lips, I  religiously use Carmex.  I seriously should own stock in the company.

Body: For my body, I normally alternate between various products.   During my lazy days when I don’t want to slather on moisturizer all over my body I reach for my LUSH Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner.  In doing so, I know my skin will be well moisturized and lightly scented with a hint of roses.  My other options include the Derm Organic Hand & Body Lotion, and Kiehl’s Creme De Corp.

Foundation: Lately, I’ve been using my MAC Face and Body foundation (C7).  Winter weather and indoor heating can dry out your skin.  The MAC Face and Body Foundation is hydrating, lightweight, user-friendly, and it gives my skin a nice dewy (not oily) look.  To remove some of the shine from areas I don’t want to highlight like my big ole forehead, I apply the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish or the CoverFX Matte Setting Powder (Dark).

Concealer: Whenever I need to hide my dark circles, I grab my IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer.  I use the waterproof formula, and it’s hydrating.  This concealer helps with hiding my dark circles while keeping my delicate eye area moisturized.  To cover up a blemish, my best friend is the LA Girl Pro Concealer (I use Toffee and Fawn).

Winter Beauty Staples for Nails

Hand Cream: Essence of Beauty Lemon Verbena Hand Cream. I actually love the entire Essence of Beauty body care line (review), but, the hand cream is something I tote around in my purse and I also have a tube sitting on my desk at work.

Cuticle Treatment: Avon Nail Experts Instant Gel Cuticle Remover gets rid of my dry cuticles in seconds. I apply the treatment to my cuticles, push back with an orange stick, and then follow up with clipping the dry cuticle skin, which essentially comes off by itself.

Cuticle Cream:  I’ve been using this MAVALA Penetrating Cuticle Cream for about two years now.  It’s my favorite cuticle cream to use at night.  During the winter, if I don’t take care of them, my cuticles get so dry and hard, and sometimes they peel. The MAVALA Penetrating Cuticle Cream is like magic, reversing the damage, thus leaving me with soft cuticles.  The scent, which reminds me of men’s cologne does take getting used to.

 

 

 

 

 

Which Winter Beauty Staples are a part of your arsenal?