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1/1/11 - 2/1/11 | Cocoa Lamina

Archive for 1/1/11 - 2/1/11

FASHION: Nine West Ebbytide

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Nine West: Ebbytide

Color: Bronze
Original Price: 98.85
Purchase Price: $33.84
Details:  Leather upper, Leather sole
Height: 4 1/4" heel 1/2" platform

"Step out in high style with the Ebbytide sandal from Nine West. The striking shoe has a soft leather upper with sophisticated twisting straps, an elastic slingback strap for a comfortable fit, and a super-tall heel to glam up your gams in an instant."

I will admit that I was a tad bit unsure about these shoes, but I'm glad I purchased them! I don't care much for platform heels because I don't have a desire to be THAT much taller lol (I like my height..5'5)..I guess I'm contradicting myself..saying I like my height yet I mainly own heels..hmm.....I'll justify..and say that heels make my feet look smaller, which I appreciate as I wear a size 9 1/2 in shoes...LOL ANYWAY. Despite me gaining several inches in height when I put the shoe on..I love them. They're actually very comfortable..which wasn't expected. Would I pay $98.00 for them?...Hell no I'm cheap...uh....I like to...shop smart..lol..Luckily for me...I found them on sale..lol


MAKEUP: Ecotools Brushes

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Ecotools

Earth-friendly beauty
  • This earth-friendly set shows respect for the planet
  • Highly sustainable bamboo handles
  • 100% cruelty-free soft taklon bristles
  • Recycled aluminum ferrules
Regular Price: ~12.49
Purchase Price: ~6.50

I purchased my set at a local Ross. The set includes....

Contains:
  • Blush brush
  • Eye shading brush
  • Eyeliner brush
  • Lash and brow groomer
  • Concealer brush
The brushes work well. I don't really have many complaints..especially for the price. I have noticed that the concealer brush has softened a bit after washing/cleaning it, but that doesn't effect use for the most part..at least not yet. The eyeshadow brush could be stiffer but it picks up shadows fairly well. It's better to pat on eyeshadow pigments rather than to "swipe" them on because the color won't be as vibrant. I intent to purchase the eyeshadow brush set to see how well those work.

Would I purchase again? Yes

FASHION: J. Renee: Kadeen

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J. Renee: Kadeen
Color: Gunmetal Celeste/Pearls (Silver/gold)
Original Price: $89.95
Purchase Price: $19.95
Details:  Metallic Fabric upper Leather sole
Height: 3 1/2" heel
 "Step out in the dazzling Kadeen peep toe pump from J.Renee and you will see heads turn. Its super lustrous fabric upper shines in the light with its glimmering metallic sheen while the knotted detail on the vamp intertwines its glistening beads and baubles. The padded insole will keep you comfy while the tall heel adds that leg-lengthening sex appeal."

I really like these shoes BUT...Yes, there's a but. Padded insole?? It has one? Uh..doesn't feel like it lol. After a while walking in these shoes will feel like you're walking on concrete barefoot... in the desert..lol..I'll be trying these with thicker cushion insoles for sure.


FASHION: Hale Bob: Dana

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Hale Bob: Dana

Color: Cream Dark brown
Original Price: 80+??
Purchase Price: $23.00
Details:  Fabric/lace upper; Leather sole
Height: 3 1/2- 4" heel


Lace and  "bling" ahh wonderful lol. I'm not sure of the original price but I paid only $23.00 ;). These ran half a size too small, so I just ordered up a size..perfect fit.



FASHION: Jessica Bennett: Luca

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*click for larger image*


Jessica Bennett: Luca
Color: Bone Black
Original Price: ~$139.95~166.95
Purchase Price: $56.00
Details:  Leather upper; Leather sole
Height: 1/2" platform, 4.25 " heel




 " This high-style sandal from Jessica Bennett is sure to stop traffic. The tall shoe has an adjustable ankle strap and a padded footbed for comfort, but its thin straps and bold color contrasts are sure to be the real showstoppers. Jessica Bennett stands out by providing the sophistication and luxury of Italian design as a bridge brand. Focusing on details that make each shoe spectacular, this collection showcases a wide variety of patterns all with one common goal, to provide a feel-good factor for feet everywhere."

 Love at first sight..lol I had to have them when I saw them..I purchased these around spring 2010. These are some sexy shoes (to me). Love love love them. They're actually relatively comfortable and easy to walk in..UNLESS you plan to be on your feet for a long amount of time..if so...lol.........I've never really understood why they make shoes with leather soles though...why???? lol There isn't much grip to the shoe, so I plan to purchase extra grips to add on the bottom..slipping while trying to catwalk is NOT cute LOL.

Fashion: Naughty Monkey: Z Inside

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Naughty Monkey: Z Inside
Color: Black White Brown
Original Price: ~$75
Purchase Price: $18.75
Details:  Striped canvas peep toe pump Leather trim Bow accent 

Height: 1/2" platform, 3 1/2" heel
Status: Discontinued
"This great new nautical peep-toe pump from Naughty Monkey is a must have!! They feature a canvas upper with bold stripes and bow detail. They have leather quarter and trim and a covered 3 1/2" heel. Lighty padded insole and man-made outsole with rubber inset."


I bought these either fall 2009 or spring 2010. I like interesting looking shoes, so when I saw these..I had to have them..but uh..I wasn't feelin' the price at that point in time ( Original price is around $70)...PASS LOL. I wouldn't say I'm cheap..I just like to..spend less so I can buy more! lol Seriously though, I'm more of a saver than a spender..anyway..I waited around a bit and caught them discounted for how much??? 18.75! That is what I say...is what's up! lol These shoes DO run large, I probably could have gotten a half size smaller but for the price..I just bought some heel pads to attach and called it a day lol.

NAILS: News print nails II

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I decided to post a sort of picture tutorial to show how I did my gradient news print nails! Hopefully I make sense~...lol

Materials:
Newspaper (dugh! lol)
Alcohol
Polishes of our choice/top coat
  A container to hold your alcohol for finger dipping
Scissors to cut the news paper
A sponge for the gradient
Rhinestones..if you like
I'll be using these two colors..
Ok! So, first I applied a clear base coat and 2 coats of Sinful Colors - Mint Apple
I let it dry and started on the gradient color. There are diff ways to do gradient colors, but I just wanted to do this one.

I painted the tip of my sponge with the color Innocent and started to dab the tips of my nails working my way down till a bit more than half way. I applied more color on the tips than mid nail by focusing more light pressure on the nail tips. This is what it looked like...
I wasn't going for a major gradient look..Nothing too neat since I'm going to be applying the news print on top anyway! After I did the gradient color on all of my nails I let them dry and added a top coat. At this point it was time to start on adding the news print. 

Make sure to have your cut outs of newspaper ready!

OK! So, dip your finger into the container you've set aside with your alcohol in it and soak it for 10 seconds or so..
Immediately after taking your nail out of the alcohol have your news strip ready and apply it firmly to your wet nail.
Apply pressure evenly as to allow for the print to transfer onto the nail. I applied pressure for around 30sec. Remove the strip carefully and.....
 Continue as you like on all nails..

There you have it..gradient news print nails..
Be sure to apply your top coat when you're done or the print will fade.

NAILS: News print nails

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So! Today I was bored and wanted to avoid doing real work (hehe). I'd been on soompi.com lurking around the nails section and came across a photo of nails with words on them...I was like...wth? I wonder how they do that..I want to learn! lol So...I looked up a tutorial today to try it out! My first attempt...not too shabby lol

SKIN: Sugar scrub

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Today I decided to do a sugar scrub for my face and hands. I like sugar scrubs of course for the exfoliation..and hey..it's CHEAP..tastes good too...lol Anyway, I started off by gathering my ingredients. I'm using, brown sugar, honey, and lemon.

Sugar is the exfoliator. Honey acts as a humectant/moisturizer (an ingredient that pulls moisture out of the air or other sources) and has antibacterial properties. It also can produce hydrogen peroxide which has lightening properties. The lemon has citric acid and also can work as a lightening agent. I do this for exfoliation and evening my skin tone (NOT specifically to lighten my skin as a whole lol). Combine the ingredients to your liking until you get a consistency you're happy with.

The consistency of my scrub looks like....

I tend to dampen my face..or wherever I'm going to scrub. Then I apply the mix and work it in. I let mine sit for however long and then rinse it off with warm water. Then take your lemon add some honey on top and suck away...lol ok..that's actually not good for your teeth enamel..but uh..it's good..*blinks*









HAIR: Benefits of DC'ing/How I Deep Condition

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Is Deep Conditioning Important For Black Hair? 

Find out why the deep conditioning process is the key to the health and length of your hair. This article looks at the importance of deep conditioning dry and curly hair types. All curly hair benefits from deep conditioning and this article touches particularly on very curly and kinky black or African American hair.

All hair is made up of the same material. Keratin. What makes hair different is the shape of the hair shaft coupled with the shape of the follicle below the scalp. Sebaceous glands below the scalp secrete an oily substance which travels down the shaft of straight hair making it shiny and locking the moisture in. With curly hair the sebaceous oil does not make it very far, this is why curly and kinky hair tends to be dry, frizzy and prone to breakage.

So what is a deep conditioner? 

Curly and kinky hair requires extra care and attention. Because of its dry state, it will be brittle and quite fragile. Deep conditioning is easily one of the most important aspects of the curly and kinky hair care regimen.

So what is a deep conditioner and why does your hair need it? Strictly speaking, a deep conditioner is any type of conditioner left on the hair for 20-30 minutes (sometimes overnight). For the deep conditioner to be truly effective, it is important that heat is used along with it. Heat allows the hair shaft to swell and the cuticles to open and allow the conditioner inside. By promoting elasticity, deep conditioning improves the strength of the hair making it more resilient which helps in length retention in the long term.

What type of deep conditioner to use 

All hair types can benefit from deep conditioning but for black hair, this is an absolute must! As the hair is dry by nature, deep conditioning restores the moisture balance in the hair which stops breakage. Deep conditioning should be done straight after a shampoo especially if a shampoo with a sulphate is used as they strip the hair leaving it dry.

The type of deep conditioner used should depend on the condition of the hair. If the hair feels mushy when wet and stretches a lot before breaking then a protein conditioner is required to restore the hair's strength. If however, the hair feels brittle and just snaps when any tension is applied; the hair is in need of a moisturizing conditioner. The aim is to get the hair to a stage where the hair is both strong but has a certain degree of elasticity. Too much protein will make the hair go hard and too much moisture will make the hair mushy.

Alternating your conditioners 

Moisturizing deep conditioners should be used in conjunction with protein deep conditioners in the hair care regimen to maintain a healthy balance. You may find that to begin with you may just want to alternate between light protein and moisturizing conditioners with every wash (assuming you are washing your hair twice a week) then adjusting your regimen according to how your hair feels.

It is better to err on the side of moisture with natural black hair. It is already pretty strong as none of the bonds have been broken by chemical service but it is likely to be dry. Some naturals also report being protein sensitive which is to say that protein tends to make their hair go hard. In this instance, a light protein should only be required once per month.

With relaxed black hair some bonds have been broken during the chemical service so is quite likely to require protein to strengthen the hair but moisture will also be required as chemicals only aggravate the dry condition of the hair.


blackhairinformation "Is Deep Conditioning Important For Black Hair?" Sqyudoo 11 Jan. 2011 <http://www.squidoo.com/why-deep-condition-hair>


I don't particularly like the term "black hair" because black people have various textures in which one category can not describe..but ANYWAY lol. I deep condition as often as I feel the need (I like doing things to my hair). Usually I DC (deep condition) once a week though it can be done more. At the least I'd say to DC once a month or per two weeks depending on your hair, though conditioning with a rinse out conditioner should be done after each shampoo!
I decided to wash my hair this morning and DC, my condition of choice was ORS Replenishing conditioner.
 After I washed my hair I let it air-dry till it was still a bit damp, then I applied my conditioner. T
I applied my plastic cap, wrapped it in a towel and proceeded to make myself some breakfast. Around 30 or so min. later I rinsed. Sometimes I sit under a dryer to DC with heat, sometimes I DC overnight. It depends on how much free time I have to spare!


FOOD: Tilapia Over Basmatti Rice

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So....if you know me, then you know I love food..lol This consists of, basmatti rice, tilapia, broccoli, garlic, and mushrooms. It's seasoned with basic seasonings (salt and pepper)..nothing complex. Though now that I see the picture I do wish I would have made a creamy sauce to go over the top..*mouth waters*

HAIR: (My flat iron) Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium 1 1/4"

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"
Meet the latest innovation in heat styling tools, theBabyliss Pro Nano Titanium 1-1/4 inch Straightening Iron. This professional flat iron features a combination of Nano Technology with the high heat conductivity of Titanium and the heat-resistant properties of Ryton to deliver state-of-the-art performance with less stress and damage to the hair. Wow. The features include 1-1/4 inch (the most-wanted size!) Nano Titanium plates with Advanced Surround Heat to straighten your hair 40% faster, eliminating the damage multiple passes can cause. Digital ionic LED temperature setting up to 450 degrees F, lightweight, slim design. With outstanding materials and brand new technology, you'll be impressed beyond belief with this iron. We were!

Product Features:
  • 1-1/4 inch Nano Titanium Plates
  • Straightens hair up to 40% faster
  • Titanium: Provides superior heat conductivity, exceptionally resistant to chemical corrosion, as strong as steel with only 60% of its density, the smoothest surface available in styling tools
  • Allows hair to glide through the plates effortlessly and fluidly for sleek, shiny results
  • Advanced Surround Heat - provides exceptional straightening results in less time 
  • Maximum amount of far infrared heat to penetrate hair from within and straighten without damaging the hair
  • Ionic Technology to smooth the hair's cuticle, sealing in moisture and shine
  • Ryton Housing - outer casing withstands excessive heat
  • Nano Technology - Existing materials are reduced in size, enhancing their natural properties for maximum efficiency
  • Extra long plates with a slim design to eliminate hand fatigue
  • Recessed LED electronic temperature controls
  • Built in Digital Ionic Generator
  • Temperature setting up to 450 F
  • Provides extraordinary straightening results
  • Slim, ergonomic design
  • Swivel power cord
  • 4 Year Limited Warranty from manufacturer"

    How I feel: I've had this flat iron for two years or more and I do like it. The ONLY thing that I don't like is the fact that with the version that I own the temp doesn't go below 300 degrees F. With that being said, I try to go over sections as quickly as possible to avoid any heat damage. My hair isn't very thick so I could definitely use a heat lower than 300 degrees. Besides the starting heat, everything else is fine. The plates are smooth and don't snag, it heat up quickly,it's not heavy, and overall it performs well.

    I blew out her roots and went over it with the Babyliss Pro. CHI silk infusion was my serum of choice.

    I purchased my iron from beauty choice.com for around $70.00 with promotions and coupons!


HAIR & SKIN: Coconut oil!

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I received my shipment of...COCONUT OIL! 4 containers of Vatika oil (Indian enriched coconut oil) and 2 containers of Nutiva coconut oil. I purchased so many so that I wouldn't have to buy any for a while and for convenience..Seeing as Vatika and unrefined coconut oil are hard to come by  where I reside. I use coconut oil for both my body, face, and hair. It works better than store bought lotions...plus is smells yummy ;)

"Coconut oil is moisturizing oil, used as a beauty aid. When used on the hair, the oil adds shine and softness to the hair shaft. The temporary moisture benefits of coconut oil enable it to cling to weaker points along the hair shaft, decreasing the occurrence of hair breakage. By aiding in lessening hair breakage, the hair stands a better chance of reaching longer lengths. Coconut oil also moisturizes the scalp, which helps dead, dry skin cells from clogging the hair follicle, which can prevent the hair from growing any further. However, the oil does need to be washed from the hair because just as it helped prevent dead skin cells from clogging the hair follicle inhibiting hair growth, the oil itself can clog the follicle over time, producing the same outcome." 

"Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care."

HAIR: Joico K-Pak Reconstruct Set

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So... I was on my favorite hair forum (LHCF of course) when I come across a post...I saw Joico and SALE, so you know I had to click..right? Apparently Trade Secret was having an after Christmas sale including some Joico shampoo and conditioner sets! I felt the urge to get there ASAP, so I had to make my way there within the following two days (the nearest Trade Secret is around 45min away).

I ended up purchasing the Joico K-Pak Reconstruct set, which included a 10.1 oz shampoo and conditioner and a mini hair spray. How much did this run me you ask? The set was 50% off so I paid around $11.00 for the set. Separately the shampoo is in the ballpark of $11.00 while the conditioner is around $13.00.

Now...How did the products perform? The shampoo felt a lot more moisturizing than I expected and my hair didn't feel stripped. I then applied the conditioner and let it sit......for longer than the directions stated (lol). I let my hair air dry in a ponytail on rollers without any leave in conditioners to see how the products would perform. My hair felt soft and moisturized yet strong.

Would I purchase again? Yes

HAIR: Moisture & Protien Balance

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The Fine Art of Protien & Moisture Balancing for 'Black' Hair Care

I wanted to start off by linking an article on protein and moisture balance and the role it plays in retaining length. Though it's a slightly long read, the information is greatly beneficial to one looking to optimize and retain their hair growth.

Welcome to Cocoa Lamina

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I was convinced by a friend to start a blog, so here I am!