Miscellaneous

Gifting A Memory with Beyoncé Pulse COTY Fragrance Gift Set #GiftingAMemory #Ad

December 16, 2015 by Kim S. / Fragrance Friday, Miscellaneous / 19 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GiftingAMemory #CollectiveBias

Holiday shopping can, at times, be stressful, especially if you’re unsure of what is the perfect gift for the special people in our lives. I like my gifts to be personal and memorable, which is why most of the time I opt for fragrance gifts; it’s like gifting a memory. Take for instance my sister, a die-hard Beyoncé “stan”. This Christmas I am gifting her a memory with a Coty Fragrance Gift Set, Beyoncé Pulse that I purchased from my local CVS. After all, our sense of smell is the most powerful sense of all. I just know that for her, just getting a whiff of a particular note of this fragrance can take her back to the moment when she was rocking to “Who Runs the World” at the Beyoncé On the Run Tour.

Beyoncé Pulse possesses energy unlike any other. It moves through you, around you. Never fading as it surges, pulsates and electrifies. The woman who wears Beyoncé Pulse is impossible to ignore, exuding sensuality and strength.

My sister Shani, as I mentioned previously, loves Beyoncé. She’s not just a regular fan; she’s a stan, which means her fan status has reached near stalker status. She loves everything Beyoncé – her style, music, hair, swag – everything! And don’t ever dare talk bad about “The Queen Bey” in her presence unless you’re prepared for the clap back. You think that’s crazy? How about my sister claiming that Blue Ivy Carter is her niece! What better gift to give her than a Beyoncé fragrance. Not just any one, Beyoncé Pulse.

Pulse is a citrus – floral – gourmand fragrance, dedicated to the favorite flower of the singer – orchid, which happens to be Shani’s favorite flower, too. This energetic composition portrays the excitement that Beyonce feels on stage, and when wearing it, my sister will be able to feel the same. I can’t wait for her to open it on Christmas day.

This holiday season, take the stress out of shopping by gifting a memory with one of the Coty Fragrance Gift Sets at your local CVS like the Beyoncé Pulse I purchased for my Beyoncé-loving sister. Be sure to use this $4 off coupon, too because gift giving doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GiftingAMemory #CollectiveBias

Holiday Gift Guide for Natural Hair Girls

December 8, 2015 by Kim S. / Hair Care, Miscellaneous / 16 Comments

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Natural Hair Girls are all around these days. In fact, I’m one of them, and I know how much we love our natural hair products, tools and accessories.

Detangling Brush

Many natural hair ladies swear by Denman brushes; however, my coils, when dry are a fan of the Tangle Teezer, and when wet, the Wet Brush.

Hair Steamer

Steam is one of the best-kept secrets for a healthy head of natural hair, and a good steam treatment is often the highlight of a naturalistas trip to the salon. What does it do? It helps infuse conditioners into the hair, increasing strength, moisture retention, and curl pattern definition. Hair steamers can be a bit pricey, like the coveted Huetiful Steamer ($150), but there are more affordable options available on Amazon. Either way, the money spent is well worth it since it will save money on the number of salon visits.

Hair Dryer

Hooded hair dryers and blow dryers are natural hair girls’ best friends. Hooded hair dryers can be used for deep treatments or roller sets, while blow dryers can be used to stretch out the hair or prep it for straightening. I love the affordable Modern Elements Hooded Dryer or the Gold N’ Hot Elite 1875-Watt Professional Stand Bonnet Dryer. It’s on wheels, which makes it easier to move. You’re also able to adjust the height. As far as blow dryers go, my hair stylist swears by the Conair Pro Bird line.

Flat Iron

For those days when you want to switch it up, and wear your hair a little straighter, that’s when us natural hair girls flatiron our hair. The BaBylissPro™ Nano Titanium™ Hair Straightener is recommended by hair stylists to get natural hair sleek and straight without a relaxer or other harsh chemicals. Of course, use a heat protectant when using any heated styling tool to prevent damage.

Shea Butter

My favorite, as you know comes from Belle Butters. I love, love, love the products from this indie brand. You may remember me raving about the Pumpkin Pie butter, but they offer other pretty awesome products great for both your hair and skin.

Cute Satin Bonnet

There are so many indie satin hair bonnet brands around with beautiful satin bonnets to wear at night to protect your hair and keep it shiny, and moisturized.

Cute Hair Accessories

There’s one thing natural hair girls aren’t seen without, and that’s a good hair accessory. Whether it’s a fancy hair clip, bow, headband or head wrap, they’re for sure wearing at least one.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Online Shopping Deals

November 27, 2015 by Kim S. / Miscellaneous / 0 comments

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Thanksgiving Day is finally behind us, which mean the holiday season is in full-throttle mode. Now, we begin our holiday shopping. To help make your shopping a little bit easier I’ve curated a list of the best online shopping deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Your bank accounts and wallets will thank me later.

Happy Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shopping!

FOREO Luna (review) is one of my favorite skincare tools they’re offering their biggest discount on their products for Black Friday.

Black Friday through Cyber Monday 25% off on all devices (LUNA, LUNA mini, LUNA for MEN, ISSA and ISSA mini) + Free Shipping! No Code needed! Valid 11.27.15 – 11.30.15.

Scentbird is offering a free perfume with a subscription. *Pay for the first month and the second month is free. Offer is valid for new subscribers only.

Save 25% off at tarte.com with code: FRIDAY at checkout. Plus, receive a Free Sample with any purchase and Free Shipping with any $25 purchase.

Temptu is having their Friends & Family Sale – 25% Off Sitewide – No Exclusions! Use code: FALLFF at checkout. Valid 11/25 – 12/2. http://www.temptu.com

Juice Beauty Black Friday Deals! Save up to 64% & Free Shipping on popular products! Valid from 11/26/15 at 12:01am PDT until 11/28/15 at 11:59pm PDT http://www.juicebeauty.com

Bliss World – Get 30% Off Almost Everything in the Store when you Use the Coupon Code: DAZZLE30 at Bliss! Shop Today for Amazing Deals! http://www.blissworld.com

Target is offering Free Shipping & Returns on every order at Target.com from 11/26/2015 – 11/28/2015

Remember to shop using Ebates to earn double cash back on all of your holiday purchases during black friday.

ISSA by FOREO in Mint Review

July 8, 2015 by Kim S. / Miscellaneous, Reviews / 37 Comments

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On the days I’m not wearing makeup, next to my skin, there’s always one part of me that’s always receiving compliments – my teeth. I maintain the health of my teeth and gums by brushing regularly, flossing, and rinsing with peroxide, which helps keep my teeth looking their whitest. Besides, in my book nothing beats a beautiful smile with nice white teeth, which is why I decided to test out the ISSA by FOREO in the Mint shade when offered through my iFabbo membership.

The ISSA by FOREO is described as

The world’s first electric toothbrush made completely from silicone, the ISSA™ is a groundbreaking at-home dental solution for cleaning and whitening. Just 2 minutes’ use every morning and night will leave your teeth looking whiter and brighter while a gentle gum-massage function will lead to healthier-looking gums – so you can show off your smile with confidence.

ISSA by FOREO Features
High-intensity pulsations
Silicone Bristles
3D Flexible Brush head

My Thoughts on the ISSA by FOREO

I’m not new to the electric brush game; however, using an all silicone brush that not only prevents bacteria build up, is gentle on the gums, and easy to clean excited me.

The ISSA by FOREO has a beautiful sleek design that makes it easy to hold. The flexible brush head of the ISSA by FOREO made it easier to maneuver around my mouth. I liked the timer feature of the ISSA by FOREO that let me know it was time to move over to another area of my mouth or that the brushing session was now complete. I like that the bottom of the ISSA was flat, which allowed it to stand on it’s own, which looked nice sitting on my bathroom sink. Plus, the color options were pretty cool, too. However, the joy of having and using an ISSA by FOREO ended there.

Compared to my drugstore brand electric brush, the high-end ISSA did not do a good job in cleaning my teeth. It didn’t matter how I used it, the length of time, or even the type of toothpaste – the brush just did not do a good job at removing plaque – the soft buildup. I did, however, like the gentle massage my gums received from using the ISSA.

My teeth are tightly placed together, and because of that the larger silicone bristles the ISSA by FOREO has, it made it impossible to get in between my teeth where other brushes have succeeded in cleaning.

Yes, it’s nice that the ISSA only needs to be charged every six months, and the brush head only needs to be replaced annually, but what’s the purpose of a toothbrush if it isn’t effectively cleaning?

Overall, after using the ISSA by FOREO toothbrush, I found that this brush was so gentle on my teeth and gums that it was ineffective at removing plaque from my teeth. Unfortunately, the ISSA will remain sitting on my bathroom vanity making it look nice.

The ISSA by FOREO is available for $199 in three additional shades: Lavender, Cobalt Blue, and Black on the FOREO website.

Have you tried the ISSA by FOREO? If so, what do you think about it?